Gregarious
Vancouver Sun city hall reporter Frances Bula's blog mentioned a former Burnaby political hopeful in her report on the who's who at Gregor Robertson's campaign launch: former Liberal candidate Mary Pynenberg.
So far no one appears to have official jumped in to take a shot for the Liberals in Burnaby-New Westminster.
So far no one appears to have official jumped in to take a shot for the Liberals in Burnaby-New Westminster.
posted by Robert Burnaby at 6:06 PM
29 Comments:
Hopeful?
Try ran twice and lost each time.
She also got in trouble for working her nomination campaign on city time using city resources.
This gives the false impression that Mary might support Gregor.
Please remember, Alan degenova was a key member of Pyneburg's previous campaign teams.
No Shit Sherlock since him and his daugher are both federal Liberals and so is Greg Wilson (the guy that ran her 2005 campaign).
What a vile comment.
The fact that Vision includes Liberals and NDPers should be no surprise. The surprise will come if they can work together, and I don't think they can. Especially not after Peter Ladner has so graciously offered to do the heavy lifting and take out the trash for the NPA.
Back to Burnaby politics.
The reason that COPE-Greens and some former NPA's are uniting to oppose a sitting mayor under a strong opposition power is clearly to unseat the mayor. But unseating an "unpopular" mayors will take more than uniting the politicians as if they do not take it to the people, the mayor and his own party will simply truck out party loyal to put them through to another team.
In Surrey, Surrey First, founded by none other than the current mayor, is ready to remove former mayor's SET complete, they have just added another councilor onto its team last week. And to think three years ago it was the former mayor that had more than super-majority on the council. Diane Watts has shown us how to oppose an unpopular mayor successfully, and having people jump over without being tagged "traitors" is a sign that when the time is right, anyone can jump. No matter it is the federal liberals to VV, or NDP (shock, Councilor Lee) to TB. If Mayor Corrigan becomes unpopular enough, yes, there will be people that used to follow the mayor jumping over to and BCL unseat the mayor himself.
Diane and her supporter group has class.
Team Burnaby doesn't and never did.
Dianne left because she was fed up with the totalitarian control the mayor exerted on its also NDP-backed SET. With strong figures like Dona Cadman backing herself and little NDP opposition she was elected. And the kind of support that Mayor Corrigan had with local NDP and others on BCA is by far unmatched when compared to the former Surrey mayor, let alone looking the democratic nature of both parties.
Just imagine Colleen Jordan breaking ranks with Corrigan to run against the mayor as an independent receiving the endorsement from local MLA's and TB, would she have a chance? Very unlikely. The win for Mayor Watts was not a result of her "outclassing" her predecessor, it was a result of successful unification of strong opposition against a weak incumbent party. Can Colleen Jordan jump? She certainly can, and if she does she will be very welcomed. But the nature of BCA/NDP is not one that lets people jump ship and any slight scent of betrayal will be punished almost immediately.
But yet, NDP members continue to jump to liberals federally when they sense the ship is sinking. And if one day our mayor does becomes unpopular, expect to see stories of exodus happening at the local level as we have seen happened at the federal level.
Dianne left because she was fed up with the totalitarian control the mayor exerted on its also NDP-backed SET.
SET was never NDP. It was (or is)
a mix of Conservatives and Liberals
plus BC Liberals. Chris Garnder and Falcon were part of SET.
"With strong figures like Dona Cadman backing herself and little NDP opposition she was elected."
Dona Cadman was not elected to Council according to her biography.
"And the kind of support that Mayor Corrigan had with local NDP and others on BCA is by far unmatched when compared to the former Surrey mayor, let alone looking the democratic nature of both parties."
Actually there is a parallel since Bob Bose (a former Surrey Mayor) ran on the NDP affiliated SCA
[Surrey Citizens Association] label.
"Just imagine Colleen Jordan breaking ranks with Corrigan to run against the mayor as an independent receiving the endorsement from local MLA's and TB, would she have a chance? Very unlikely."
Why would she think about doing that? She is mediocre to begin with.
If she has 'endorsement' from Team Burnaby, that dilutes her 'independent candidate' label.
"The win for Mayor Watts was not a result of her "outclassing" her predecessor, it was a result of successful unification of strong opposition against a weak incumbent party."
Partially true, but therre was also other factors involved.
"Can Colleen Jordan jump? She certainly can, and if she does she will be very welcomed."
By whom?
"But the nature of BCA/NDP is not one that lets people jump ship and any slight scent of betrayal will be punished almost immediately. "
Perhaps, but if she is a strong enough person, she can overcome that kind of shit.
"But yet, NDP members continue to jump to liberals federally when they sense the ship is sinking."
Not many are actually doing that in great numbers that would erode the support base that both Siskay and Julian has.
"And if one day our mayor does becomes unpopular, expect to see stories of exodus happening at the local level as we have seen happened at the federal level."
Not very likely since BCA members are also NDPers and they tend to stick around.
If you think there's going to be a mass exdous from the NDP to the federal Liberals to the degree that either or both Siskay's and Julian's support base is totally wiped out and they lose the next election because of it then I have a new bridge over the Fraser I can sell you.
Colleen Jordan's decision to run against the sitting mayor if realized will be a story parallel to Mayor Watts' path to city hall. Both were elected mostly thanks to the party that the mayor put together rather than on personal merits. Both had　served faithfully on city council but had no prominence in their respective parties and been deemed "mediocre". Both would be female councilors seeking to unseat ailing mayors but would have kept friends on city council by only contesting each other on the mayoral race and can easily win friends over to form majority even if BCA wins majority.
Differnce however is that even if Colleen Jordan is more gifted a politician, the kind of power Mayor Corrigan has over BCA with external support is not one that can easily compared to SET. If Mayor Watts thought SET were tight controlled, take a look up north. A switch will be welcomed by just about anyone not in BCA circles but will take a lot more than Dianne did when she left SET.
But the rationale for any BCA councilor to jump will be one that is based on winning. Nick V will be the first to go if BCA loses its majority, and none others will need Corrigan's incumbency as much as he does. If Mayor Corrigan suddenly becomes unpopular, some like him may have to jump to save themselves. True, the monotonous nature of BCA continues to bore the voters, but no one is doubting that as long as they can win, they will keep following the mayor until the very end.
"Colleen Jordan's decision to run against the sitting mayor if realized will be a story parallel to Mayor Watts' path to city hall. "
That is assuming that this - yet aonother convulted postulation - comes to be reality.
"Both were elected mostly thanks to the party that the mayor put together rather than on personal merits."
With Watts, not exactly true. She was elected on the basis of her
own achievements as well as party.
"Both had　served faithfully on city council but had no prominence in their respective parties and been deemed "mediocre". Both would be female councilors seeking to unseat ailing mayors but would have kept friends on city council by only contesting each other on the mayoral race and can easily win friends over to form majority even if BCA wins majority. "
This is getting a bit over the top.
"Differnce however is that even if Colleen Jordan is more gifted a politician, the kind of power Mayor Corrigan has over BCA with external support is not one that can easily compared to SET."
Colleen's only gift is her ability to come out with poor research and
her constant talking.
"If Mayor Watts thought SET were tight controlled, take a look up north. A switch will be welcomed by just about anyone not in BCA circles but will take a lot more than Dianne did when she left SET. "
North of Surrey is Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, not Burnaby
No comparative there. Rewrite.
But the rationale for any BCA councilor to jump will be one that is based on winning. Nick V will be the first to go if BCA loses its majority, and none others will need Corrigan's incumbency as much as he does. If Mayor Corrigan suddenly becomes unpopular, some like him may have to jump to save themselves. True, the monotonous nature of BCA continues to bore the voters, but no one is doubting that as long as they can win, they will keep following the mayor until the very end.
If this is true, cite?
The point is, people like to make Dianne's victory more than what it is which is simply a successful campaign to unite opposition against the sitting mayor. And it is simply a parallel of Colleen Jordan taking on a far more powerful party than the mayoral party in Surrey and one can liken the support Dianne received with Nick and TB endorsing her run undercutting the sitting mayor's support making apparent untouchable power disposable if our mayor does experience the sort of "unpopularity" that his Surrey counterpart experienced due to his unbearable demand on SET members for "party loyalty".
Mary Pyneburg would have no impact taking on Peter Julian for the third time in the upcoming municipal election and knowing that while backing a bid against mayor that did not contribute to her loss can only be explained by the solid grip BCA may very well have after the next election, especially if TB candidate looks incapable of convincing voters to vote for a change. But these things happen, no one can stop Gary Begin from backing the mayor's re-election if he thinks Corrigan's victory is inevitable. And if some day Lee Rankin does become the mayor, councilors like Colleen or Nick too should not be criticized should they decide to join BCA to form a majority bloc on the council.
The point is, people like to make Dianne's victory more than what it is which is simply a successful campaign to unite opposition against the sitting mayor.
Such a thing did not exist in Surrey as Watts was a continuation of Doug McCullum. Both were in the same Party at the time Watts' group splintered off.
And it is simply a parallel of Colleen Jordan taking on a far more powerful party than the mayoral party in Surrey and one can liken the support Dianne received with Nick and TB endorsing her run undercutting the sitting mayor's support making apparent untouchable power disposable if our mayor does experience the sort of "unpopularity" that his Surrey counterpart experienced due to his unbearable demand on SET members for "party loyalty".
Wrong actually. Colleen has not been indicated to show she wants to run for Mayor. it's just postulating on the writer's part.
"Mary Pyneburg would have no impact taking on Peter Julian for the third time in the upcoming municipal election"
Peter Julian is not running for a seat in the municipal election.
It would be foolish for the local federal Liberals to have Pynenburg
as the candidate for the third time.
and knowing that while backing a bid against mayor that did not contribute to her loss can only be explained by the solid grip BCA may very well have after the next election,"
Also add in that the voters as a majority did not see her as a viable MP. She was not in the party of government during her second time as candidate.
"especially if TB candidate looks incapable of convincing voters to vote for a change."
Many TB candidates will end up that way. The voters will only vote for change if they see a need.
It's up to the TB candidates to sell the idea.
" But these things happen, no one can stop Gary Begin from backing the mayor's re-election if he thinks Corrigan's victory is inevitable."
Why would he do that?
"And if some day Lee Rankin does become the mayor, councilors like Colleen or Nick too should not be criticized should they decide to join BCA to form a majority bloc on the council."
Both are members of the BCA now.
Colleen Jordan leaving the ndp????
What the hell are you people talking about?
This blog needs to be moderated
The NDP seems to be just as strong as ever at Burnaby city hall. I dare say, Corrigan has more Liberal supporters than Rankin has NDP friends.
Somebody should ask why Begin and Evans get such awful press coverage?
Begin and Evans are far more progressive than
Rankin on many issues, with the possible exception of Taiwan.
"Colleen Jordan leaving the ndp????
What the hell are you people talking about?
This blog needs to be moderated"
I'd say it needs to be erased and tried again.
The NDP seems to be just as strong as ever at Burnaby city hall. I dare say, Corrigan has more Liberal supporters than Rankin has NDP friends."
"That would be true. Corrigan gets
quite a few votes outside of the NDP. The results in past elections
say that."
"Somebody should ask why Begin and Evans get such awful press coverage?"
Indeed, and someone obviously isn't looking at the widern picture with those two.
"Begin and Evans are far more progressive than
Rankin on many issues, with the possible exception of Taiwan."
What does Taiwan have to do with Burnaby?
Is the Kuomingtang opening a Burnaby Prefecture office?
"Somebody should ask why Begin and Evans get such awful press coverage?"
"Indeed, and someone obviously isn't looking at the widern picture with those two."
What do you mean, if you please?
I won't please. Do your homework.
Mayor Corrigan may be a friend with many federal liberals, but there is no more Paul Martin to appoint him to the Senate. But would Richard Lee and Harry Bloy both of whom have endorsed Bill Cunningham have any less friends with the federal liberals than our mayor? Hard to say, but if required to pick sides, I would say politically they will continue to side with the MLA's. But when any party is in power, most would say that it is a lot easier to make friends, and when the party loses popularity, it loses these friends just as fast. There is a reason that Gary Began is the only TB councilor that gets to chair committees.
But why should Mayor Corrigan take its party members on the council for granted. He have have far greater control over the governing party against his Surrey and Vancouver counterparts, but that does not prevent either computer-gate or removal of Olympics oval. Either incident should be reason enough for a revolt but none has been observed and likely will not be observed in the near future with our far more powerful party running the city no matter how heroically matched College Jordon is with the Surrey Mayor.
But 9 months is a long time and anything can change. A month ago everyone thought Mayor Sullivan is ready to be coroneted a second term but no more is the inevitability. Is it inevitable that Mayor Corrigan will win by a landslide bringing in a pure BCA council? Possible, however, if unexpectedly change occurs as what had happened in Surrey, expect to see friends coming over under Mayor Lee's leadership, if realized, federally, provincially or locally on the council.
"Mayor Corrigan may be a friend with many federal liberals, but there is no more Paul Martin to appoint him to the Senate."
Thank God for that. There doesn't
need to be any more appointments of convenience to the Senate.
But would Richard Lee and Harry Bloy both of whom have endorsed Bill Cunningham have any less friends with the federal liberals than our mayor?
Ask them. Richard Lee has been a
long time federal Liberal. Harry
was originally Conservative but he seems to be all over the map to suit his own agenda. It's rather odd for a Conservative to be supporting a federal Liberal.
"Hard to say, but if required to pick sides, I would say politically they will continue to side with the MLA's."
Not nessesarily. There's no reason to since the federal Liberals are not government.
"But when any party is in power, most would say that it is a lot easier to make friends, and when the party loses popularity, it loses these friends just as fast."
Not nessesarily there. There have been fast losses of friends when the party is in power. Says alot about those so-called 'friends' too. Are they there because of dedication to what the party stands for or for themselves personally. In the case of Harry, it more for him than anything.
"There is a reason that Gary Began is the only TB councilor that gets to chair committees. "
Sure there is. Gary's been around longer than Garth and doesn't chafe the Mayor's skivvies like Lee does. Why would Corrigan appoint Rankin, when Lee left the BCA in a huff a few years ago?
Gary's also very well known in the community so that helps. It's rather odd that a party such as T/B complains that only BCA people get on these committees, and then once a non BCA person does, T/B complains even more. Something wrong there, folks.
"But why should Mayor Corrigan take its party members on the council for granted. He have have far greater control over the governing party against his Surrey and Vancouver counterparts, but that does not prevent either computer-gate or removal of Olympics oval. "
Has nothing to do with either. Computer-gate or what ever you want to call it is a product of the bureaucrats who went to council to recommend approval. As for the 2010 Oval, Richmond put out a better deal, and the logistics for having the Oval there instead of Bby Mountain was a better choice.
"Either incident should be reason enough for a revolt but none has been observed and likely will not be observed in the near future with our far more powerful party running the city no matter how heroically matched College Jordon is with the Surrey Mayor. "
College Jordon??
Heroically matched with the Surrey Mayor??
This is getting really silly.
"But 9 months is a long time and anything can change. A month ago everyone thought Mayor Sullivan is ready to be coroneted a second term but no more is the inevitability. "
Possible. Sam has been a disappointment, but it depends on the wishes of first the NPA membership and second the voters if Sam wins his nomination whether he goes back to the Mayor's office.
Doesn't have any meaning in Burnaby.
"Is it inevitable that Mayor Corrigan will win by a landslide bringing in a pure BCA council?"
Don't need a landslide council. The current mix of T/B and BCA is fine and may end up into being.
"Possible, however, if unexpectedly change occurs as what had happened in Surrey, expect to see friends coming over under Mayor Lee's leadership, if realized, federally, provincially or locally on the council."
Mayor Lee??
How about Harry Bloy's hand puppet
named Lee.
But Lee making Mayor is not a sure thing.
Computer-gate and "oval-gate" have shown that despite the "popularity" many claim Mayor Corrigan appear to have in the city, when it comes to running the city, there is certainly considerable space for improvement, no matter its having a more careful approach to fiscal management or devising a better game to defend the city's asset against the poachers. No one is perfect.
Our last premier did not suffered a loss that is somewhat damning turning him into a federal liberal shortly after. The result of indifference from the incumbent party members was one that we had already observed when Campbell took over the government turning Burnaby into BCL territory for a full term.
Admittedly the mishaps Corrigan administration had had less profound impact then his friends in Victoria had prior to Campbell government, but the reason that the mayor's party is "solidly" behind him is largely due to the kind of culture that Dianne Watt touched on somewhat in her mayoral campaign, it is that temporary power grants seemingly unanimous support. But there is no reason to believe that Colleen Jordan, a Carole James like figure, will do a poorer job running the city hall. But the nature of the party she belongs to has made her loyalty almost a requirement.
It is no surprise however. When people have approved the mayor for the second term, there is really no space for even slight criticism. A Rankin government elected by the people too will have a working majority on a BCA dominated council. No one is rebuking Gary Begin's involvement with BCA as he has long enough resume to convince others that his every move is for the better being of the community. But these things happen and Gary Begin's role on the council is fully understood. But one question remains as Lee Rankin may very well have, with the kind of support Mayor Corrigan enjoys both on the council and from the votes he has received from his support base, what sort of legacy will Mayor Corrigan have left us if he is given another term extending his reign to close to a decade. ? His second term was certainly more news-worthy than his first term.
Computer-gate and "oval-gate" have shown that despite the "popularity" many claim Mayor Corrigan appear to have in the city, when it comes to running the city, there is certainly considerable space for improvement, no matter its having a more careful approach to fiscal management or devising a better game to defend the city's asset against the poachers. No one is perfect.
Poachers? This is getting more sillier by the day.
Richmond came up with a better plan and the logistics worked out a lot better for the facility in Richmond. Besides it was never a done deal in Burnaby, just a proposal.
As for computer-gate, it was the city bureaucrats not Council that actually chose the system to be used. The City Manager brought the recommendations to council who approved it. The same thing could have easily occured if Team Burnaby had a majority.
"Our last premier did not suffered a loss that is somewhat damning turning him into a federal liberal shortly after."
There was the enticement of a Cabinet Post.
"The result of indifference from the incumbent party members was one that we had already observed when Campbell took over the government turning Burnaby into BCL territory for a full term. "
Not 100%. There is Burnaby Edmonds which is not BC Liberal. It was from 2001-2005, but Patti Sahota
did not do much for Edmonds and lost the seat.
"Admittedly the mishaps Corrigan administration had had less profound impact then his friends in Victoria had prior to Campbell government, but the reason that the mayor's party is "solidly" behind him is largely due to the kind of culture that Dianne Watt touched on somewhat in her mayoral campaign, it is that temporary power grants seemingly unanimous support."
So why does Dianne Watts figure into an equation that does not involve Surrey? This is getting pathetic.
"But there is no reason to believe that Colleen Jordan, a Carole James like figure, will do a poorer job running the city hall."
What makes you think she will run for the Mayor's office? Seems to us that you are trying to find easy alternatives for team Burnaby to run against.
First it was a step down of Corrigan to federal, then provincial leader of the NDP. Now it is Colleen Jordan to the Mayor's chair.
"But the nature of the party she belongs to has made her loyalty almost a requirement. "
Not shit, sherlock, The same kind of 'loyalty' that seems to be pressing on Gary Begin and Team Burnaby.
"It is no surprise however. When people have approved the mayor for the second term, there is really no space for even slight criticism."
The voters can be critical all they want. Whether the Mayor listens is another story.
"A Rankin government elected by the people too will have a working majority on a BCA dominated council."
So it's Rankin now is it? It was Colleen Jordan before.
"No one is rebuking Gary Begin's involvement with BCA as he has long enough resume to convince others that his every move is for the better being of the community."
Gary has no involvement with the BCA. Cite explicit examples.
"But these things happen and Gary Begin's role on the council is fully understood. "
His role is to represent the interests of the community like every other councillor.
"But one question remains as Lee Rankin may very well have, with the kind of support Mayor Corrigan enjoys both on the council and from the votes he has received from his support base, what sort of legacy will Mayor Corrigan have left us if he is given another term extending his reign to close to a decade. ?"
Not bad, but a better question would be What would Team Burnaby's Mayor provide that would be better than Corrigan (other than Corrigan's trademark rants and arrogance).
"His second term was certainly more news-worthy than his first term."
Gordon Campbell's first term was certainly more news-worthy than his second.
Alan degenova for mayor of Burnaby
That is what this thread was about, right?
Degenova for mayor.
It'll be the best he can hope for after getting the royal shaft in Vancouver. Much like his friend Mary Pyenburg got in New Westminster.
Or maybe Rankin will run for mayor of Vancouver. At least he'll get some name recognition.
Go Les go!
(I mean Lee)
Is everybody here as crazy as me?
"Is everybody here as crazy as me?"
The patients are running the asylum.
"Or maybe Rankin will run for mayor of Vancouver. At least he'll get some name recognition."
Rankin has as much chance of winning that seat in Vancouver as Corrigan does becoming NDP leader in Victoria.
The point of this thread is how easily a mayor that seems ready to cruise will face opposition from those who are "supposed" to be friends. No figure is eternally popular and it takes about a month before real opposition against Sullivan's re-election to set in and no more is he going to cruise to his next term. And without an Olympics legacy venue to preside over, our city's mayoral election's news-worthiness is no more than Harry Bloy and Richard Lee's own re-election campaigns.
"Rankin has as much chance of winning that seat in Vancouver as Corrigan does becoming NDP leader in Victoria. "
The other problem is that in order to run in Vancouver, a person needs to either live there or be the primary owner of a business or land there, and Rankin most likely
does not on all accounts.
"The point of this thread is how easily a mayor that seems ready to cruise will face opposition from those who are "supposed" to be friends."
The point of this thread is the usual wild postulating by someone who obviously needs more work in
the research department.
"No figure is eternally popular and it takes about a month before real opposition against Sullivan's re-election to set in and no more is he going to cruise to his next term."
Has nothing to do with Burnaby.
"And without an Olympics legacy venue to preside over, our city's mayoral election's news-worthiness is no more than Harry Bloy and Richard Lee's own re-election campaigns."
Sure considering that the decision to set the Oval was made before the 2005 civic and provincial election.
what about John Nuraney? He's seeking re-election too, eh?
Good news
Rankin's law business is located in Vancouver.
And Corrigan's was in Langley.
The people's republic of Burnaby could expand in both directions. Heck, it could soon become an empire.
Don't you love politics!
Residency was never a problem. NPA was about to elect a prominent Burnaby resident into the council before the national press started to turn against him. But what is Rankin to gain if he does decide to start backing Peter Ladner against Mayor Sullivan & vice versa. If anything, jumping on Bill Cunningham may be far more beneficial.
Rankin's not going anywhere politically.
No need to waste the pixels.
Sitting against Mayor and previously Councilor Corrigan for this long must have granted him at least some credits, agrees? Rankin and his TB fellow councilors all believe they deserve to be mayors all trying position themselves, but it is more difficult to see who can emerge from BCA as the successor to Mayor Corrigan and even the most powerful councilor that chairs the finance committee does not impress the voters as much as Mrs. Corrigan. I think with all the talk trying to discredit Lee Rankin, maybe it is time to appreciate how all the more senior TB councilors have served the community with their wisdom gained from years of experiences. The NPA councilors cant even touch the TB councilors in terms of the age that wisdom usually follows after.
I heard some speculation that Stephan Dion was going to let David Orchard be the candidate for the Liberals in Burnaby New Westminster. I think that would be awesome considering Peter Julian's affiliation with Maude Barlow and the council of Canadians. The NDP and Grits would have a great time carving up the left vote.
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