CALGARY – A veteran newspaper columnist who wrote a number of articles on “Scud Stud” Arthur Kent during the 2008 Alberta election says it was unusual for a candidate to go “rogue” and criticize both his party and leader.
Don Braid, a columnist for the Calgary Herald, was a witness at Kent’s defamation case against Postmedia and columnist Don Martin, over an article written while Kent was running for a seat in the legislature.
Kent, who is a former journalist and became known as the Scud Stud for his live reports during the Gulf War, took exception to the article that labelled him a “dud” and portrayed him as an ego-driven star candidate at war with Progressive Conservative party officials.
Braid says he interviewed Kent prior to the Martin article and the candidate was critical of then-premier Ed Stelmach and the party.
He says he actually asked Kent if he was sure he wanted to go “on the record” because when candidates speak out, there are usually repercussions.
Braid says he had no involvement in the Martin column.
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