Murphy's Logic: True leaders know when to leave

Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna speaks during the University of St. Francis Xavier's annual national dinner and fundraiser in Toronto on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)

Frank McKenna sometimes jokes that he has been thanked more often for stepping down after 10 years as premier of New Brunswick than for what he did during his 10 years in office.

He usually gets a laugh with that line. But as is often the case with a good joke, there’s some truth in it.

McKenna resigned in 1997, 10 years to the day after he was elected, for what might now seem like a rather quaint reason. He did it because he said he would.

He once told me saying he would go after 10 years was a promise he soon regretted making because people like me started counting down the days. Not exactly … but we were keeping track!

All these years later, McKenna, the elder statesman, admits he was becoming more single-minded and bubble-wrapped by a close cadre of advisers after 10 years and that leaving was the right thing to do.

McKenna has been out of elected politics for more than a quarter of a century, but he may be more respected and popular now than ever. And it’s largely because he didn’t stay too long.

Others in high office would do well to follow his example. There’s honour in keeping your word, common sense in leaving before losing touch with the people who elected you, and class and dignity in not being given the boot.