Former View Royal mayor David Screech has said he is no longer the official federal Liberal candidate for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding because of allegations of stalking and harassment.
A letter from the National Campaign co-chairs, shared by Screech on social media, says a thorough review of his eligibility to serve as a “Qualified Nomination Contestant has been conducted, which has recommended his nomination be revoked after “careful consideration.”
“Unfortunately, based on that recommendation, your status as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada has been revoked,” says the letter from Andrew Bevan, designate of the national campaign co-chairs, dated Jan. 29.
“I appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to you, and your campaign team.”
Reacting to the news, Screech said he was “stunned and angry.”
According to the former View Royal mayor, the Liberal Party had contacted him on Jan. 28 explaining they had received an e-mail from someone claiming he had stalked and harassed them.
“Anyone who knows me knows that these allegations are complete nonsense and were made in a malicious manner,” said Screech in his post.
He claims there has been no opportunity to ‘plead his case’, and has made several attempts to speak to party officials, with no success.
“I am shaken by this turn of events,” continues Screech. "I will get over it and carry on but it is hard to be treated with such callous disregard by a party that you have supported your whole life, a party that made you jump through multiple hoops to be their candidate in the first place, not to mention a $1,000 fee.”
Screech, a four-term councillor and two-term mayor in View Royal, was acclaimed Liberal candidate Jan. 16, describing the moment as "an honour.”
