Story of the Year: Begin and Evans and Rankin, oh my!
Two-thousand-and-eight was a busy year for politics in Burnaby, B.C., and Canada, and many arguments could be made for Burnaby's political story of the year. The strongest argument for story of the year is the meltdown of the political partnership of Lee Rankin, Gary Begin, and Garth Evans.
Other stories such as the third terms of Bill Siksay and Peter Julian, the computer system issue at City Hall, the carbon tax causing trouble for BC Liberal MLAs, and the complete sweep by the Burnaby Citizens in the municipal vote pale in comparison. The year long skirmish that destroyed TEAM Burnaby and its electoral fortunes was a sight to see.
In 2007 there were already divisions over Begin siding in some votes with the BCA. This was followed up by rumours of Rankin and Evans squaring off for the mayoral nomination. Evans and some TEAM supporters walked away, continuing rumours of an independent run for mayor. Then Begin left and Independent Voices was created so Begin, Evans, and Barb Spitz could share resources and campaign as a new party. School trustee Richard Lee did not seek re-election in Burnaby and Helen Chang chose to run as an independent.
In the meantime, rumours of Rankin running for mayor continued but began to fade as the writing on the wall appeared to support the re-election of Derek Corrigan. Eventually Rankin joined Evans and Begin in running for re-election as a member of council and TEAM put up a former independent candidate for mayor. TEAM's one accomplishment in this year of crushing defeat was the ethnic diversity of its candidates for council and school board.
When voting day arrived, Begin, Evans, and Rankin were defeated. The BCA swept the city council and the school district board. Perhaps this would have resulted anyway due to the strong campaign run by Corrigan and the civic left, but if the year long fight by former TEAM Burnaby councillors had not taken place things might have been different.
For that reason, the political feud that demolished a "team" was the biggest political story of the year in Burnaby.
Other stories such as the third terms of Bill Siksay and Peter Julian, the computer system issue at City Hall, the carbon tax causing trouble for BC Liberal MLAs, and the complete sweep by the Burnaby Citizens in the municipal vote pale in comparison. The year long skirmish that destroyed TEAM Burnaby and its electoral fortunes was a sight to see.
In 2007 there were already divisions over Begin siding in some votes with the BCA. This was followed up by rumours of Rankin and Evans squaring off for the mayoral nomination. Evans and some TEAM supporters walked away, continuing rumours of an independent run for mayor. Then Begin left and Independent Voices was created so Begin, Evans, and Barb Spitz could share resources and campaign as a new party. School trustee Richard Lee did not seek re-election in Burnaby and Helen Chang chose to run as an independent.
In the meantime, rumours of Rankin running for mayor continued but began to fade as the writing on the wall appeared to support the re-election of Derek Corrigan. Eventually Rankin joined Evans and Begin in running for re-election as a member of council and TEAM put up a former independent candidate for mayor. TEAM's one accomplishment in this year of crushing defeat was the ethnic diversity of its candidates for council and school board.
When voting day arrived, Begin, Evans, and Rankin were defeated. The BCA swept the city council and the school district board. Perhaps this would have resulted anyway due to the strong campaign run by Corrigan and the civic left, but if the year long fight by former TEAM Burnaby councillors had not taken place things might have been different.
For that reason, the political feud that demolished a "team" was the biggest political story of the year in Burnaby.
posted by Robert Burnaby at 11:36 AM
13 Comments:
"Perhaps this would have resulted anyway due to the strong campaign run by Corrigan and the civic left, but if the year long fight by former TEAM Burnaby councillors had not taken place things might have been different.
For that reason, the political feud that demolished a "team" was the biggest political story of the year in Burnaby."
No shit, Sherlock.
But this is what happens when egos get over the top and people don't look at the bigger picture.
But there's no sense in complaining about the BCA, Team Burnaby is the cause of them getting a majority.
Much of the blame can also be put on the low voter turnout which allows an organized crew like the BCA to get elected easily.
Only chance TEAM or the others had was to run on an issue which gets people off their butts on election day but this of course did not happen. Civic elections are not a popularity contest and people who make the difference will only turnout if there is an issue that "turns their crank".
Only chance TEAM or the others had was to run on an issue which gets people off their butts on election day but this of course did not happen.
Obviously not. The geniuses running Team Burnaby made sure of that easily enough.
Civic elections are not a popularity contest and people who make the difference will only turnout if there is an issue that "turns their crank".
In Team Burnaby's instance, the engine seized up resulting in major shop time for repairs.
The repair bil is going to be a big one.
Even doubtful if the engine can be saved, strong possibility of expensive and complicated replacement.
"When voting day arrived, Begin, Evans, and Rankin were defeated. The BCA swept the city council and the school district board. Perhaps this would have resulted anyway due to the strong campaign run by Corrigan and the civic left, but if the year long fight by former TEAM Burnaby councillors had not taken place things might have been different.
For that reason, the political feud that demolished a "team" was the biggest political story of the year in Burnaby."
Very much true. I agree with the resident blogger 100%. I have long predicted that without Patti Sahota or Richard Lee uniting the opposition, there cannot be a change of power and a divided one will be on that will create a wipeout from the council. While I hoped I was wrong, but I was proven right and failing to have Patti Sahota unseat Derek Corrigan is the biggest blunder Lee Rankin made in his political career who will be retired perpetually from the council.
Our community paper's selection of our city's power couple as being the biggest story of the year is however a bit ridiculous. Under this circumstances, Derek Corrigan's mother may as well run and she will get elected. I though Derek's colleague said it best, the only female councilor in the previous term stated BCA would have become the longest socialist government in Canada. And yes, this is the correct quote. And in that regard, I would say that Burnaby being dominated by a socialist dynasty as opposition finally dies out is probably the best thing that will happen to those who are opposed to socialist ideologies as they will be the ones forced to come out to vote against the socialist governing party in the city.
"Very much true. I agree with the resident blogger 100%. I have long predicted that without Patti Sahota or Richard Lee uniting the opposition, there cannot be a change of power and a divided one will be on that will create a wipeout from the council."
Possible, but the problem with that is that neither publicly came out to do anything, and one has to wonder exactly how much value Patti Sahota would have since she hasn't done anything the public can see since being defeated in 2005.
"While I hoped I was wrong, but I was proven right and failing to have Patti Sahota unseat Derek Corrigan is the biggest blunder Lee Rankin made in his political career who will be retired perpetually from the council. "
Patti Sahota would have been defeated anyway. It was all Lee Rankin's power play which had him ending up in the box.
"Our community paper's selection of our city's power couple as being the biggest story of the year is however a bit ridiculous."
No it isn't. Cast aside the obvious politics, and its rare that a husband-wife team reach that far in local politics. Would you say the same thing if Nancy Campbell went on to win a seat on Vancouver School Board?
"Under this circumstances, Derek Corrigan's mother may as well run and she will get elected. "
Certainly would have done better than Lee Rankin, that's for damb sure.
"I though Derek's colleague said it best, the only female councilor in the previous term stated BCA would have become the longest socialist government in Canada."
She's wrong. And Corrigan said she was wrong. There's no application to socialist ideaology at the civic level and never has been in Burnaby.
And yes, this is the correct quote. And in that regard, I would say that Burnaby being dominated by a socialist dynasty as opposition finally dies out is probably the best thing that will happen to those who are opposed to socialist ideologies as they will be the ones forced to come out to vote against the socialist governing party in the city.
Possible. But that had been said about 10 years ago.
Same old song. Same old blues.
The Burnaby Now's fawning up to their beloved "power couple" is the ultimate in lazy and biased journalism.
I cant blame the Corrigans. If the BN doesn't have any more journalistic creativity than this why not mop it up.
Although you have to wonder if they are doing the Corrigans a disservice as the two come out looking like aged treehuggers/hippies who's idea of a good time is to sit around sipping red wine and drinking Diet Pepsi.
So what if this was Ronald Leung
or even Lee / Ragni Rankin?
There would be the same complaints but from different people.
You're singing the blues from an old song book.
And to think, some people thought it was a lesbian conspiracy.
See:
http://communities.canada.com/vannet/blogs/commcons/archive/2008/10/19/blaming-the-media-right-left-or-wrong.aspx
What nutbars.
"It was all Lee Rankin's power play which had him ending up in the box."
Very sad but very true. If there are still people wondering how Lee Rankin would have run a Mayor's Office, they should look at how how he ran TB over the last year.
But Gary Begin and Garth Evans were even worse than Lee Rankin. They all got what they deserved; their reputations shattered by their own selfishness and egos. Its time to get behind the BCA.
That's odd. There was a nice article of priase about Begin in the paper.
As for Rankin, I'd agree, he was the cause of it all (including a few of his supporters).
You seem to be singing the blues from beneath a single lit street lamp on a dark night.
Bleeding Gums Murphy, a little more down sax for that sad sack blues singer please..
yeah, we know the song, that sad sack is singing about how his beloved Team Burnaby got mashed in the polls. Goes like this:
*slow blues instrumentals*
A sad sack playing jazz under a street lamp at Canada Way and Deer Park Way in front of City hall.
I supported a great candidate
He made me proud every day
And that November evening, even our own gave to the bad BCA..
They gave our laaast vote away..
Corrigan acted like he belongs...
He belongs in the zoo
I'm the saddest member in Team Bur-nah- beee... that is all sooo truuue...
What I loved about this blog site was all those Garth fans/ Gary groopies/ and Barb Spitz suckups. For the last two years this site has been full of Garth/Gary/Barbara groopies. Every one of them certain that their star could run (and win) on their own. They didn't need anyone. They were such bright stars that anyone who saw them (and followed) would be led to the promised land of victory.
In the real world, wise men such as Garth Evans, Barb Spitz and Gary Begin bring disaster to everyone. Lee Rankin may get another chance, but he also is probably screwed by his poor leadership. The voters were fed up with the lot of them - A squabbling clatch of egomaniacs. It's ironic the motto for TEAM was "It's time for change" ..... ahhhh.... on whose part exactly? ... can we ask? TEAM is now gone.
So how long is this Team Burnaby pity party going to go on?
Still going to sing the blues from the same old song book?
You might as well re-sing, after the instrumentals from within the light of that single street lamp somewhere on Kingsway..
" supported a great candidate..,
He made me proud every day
And that November evening, even our own gave to the bad BCA..
They gave our laaast vote away..
Corrigan acted like he belongs...
He belongs in the zoo
I'm the saddest member in Team Bur-nah- beee... that is all sooo truuue...
*refrain instrumentals*
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