Political strategist Rod Love dies

Rod Love, the man behind former Calgary mayor and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, has died.

Rod Love, the man working behind the scenes for former Calgary mayor and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, has died.

Don Martin, the host of Power Play revealed the news on Twitter.

Love served as Klein’s chief of staff during his terms in both offices, and also ran himself for the provincial Tories in 1992 in Calgary-Buffalo.

Martin also told CTV Morning Live that the relationship Love had with Klein was very unique. "It was a very symbiotic relationship. One that I've never seen before and I've never seen since. You just don't see those types of relationships very often."

In a statement on the PC Alberta website, executive director Kelly Charlebois says Love will be missed. "

Rod’s political legacy of service to Albertans and sense of humour will be missed by many of us but his ability to grasp issues and his appreciation of what made Calgarians and Albertans tick, will stay with me for my lifetime."

In September, Love announced that doctors had discovered a tumour in his upper body, but hadn’t gone into detail about the seriousness of his condition.

He leaves behind his wife Charlene and three children.