I've chatted with Ryan Dolby many times. I've seen him in action.
He's been a standup NDPer, in my estimation. He was in the room when Jack Layton came to St Thomas in 2009 and talked to more people from Windsor than citizens of St Thomas\EML. He put a brave face on a hopeless situation during the election of '08 and after.
Much like Brad James, who was parachuted in from Toronto (no local candidate stepped forward) in the last provincial election to run against eventual Speaker Steve Peters.
If he stays in politics Dolby may be looking ahead and seeing a seat opening provincially, for the Liberals. Peters isn't running again. I can't remember if he's been replaced as a candidate yet. Peters' word carries serious weight in EML. He could probably toss the riding to Dolby this fall... though I suspect it would be close.
I think watching St Thomas turn into a ghost town, from an intimately inside perspective, and then trying to be an NDPer at the same time has Dolby shell shocked. He's lashing out. Can't say I blame him much.
I think people can quetion his actions while giving a nod to his circumstances.