Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan.

Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan and his Burnaby Citizens Association scooped all 16 spots at the 2008 polls, but according to TEAM Burnaby’s losing mayoral challenger Lee Rankin, this has made the governing party “sloppy and arrogant in power”.

“I think it is unhealthy, because major issues don’t get a full airing, or any airing whatsoever, and it is difficult to challenge the issues, whether it’s their dismal record on homelessness or the excessive pay raises given to the mayor and council,” Rankin told the Straight by phone. “There should be a voice at the table to challenge and to provide alternative visions.”

TEAM Burnaby members will elect a new board at their fall AGM, Rankin said. The veteran politician and one-time BCA member also declared he was “absolutely” confident he would have a full slate in place by November 2011.

“The organization is busy on policy issues and fundraising and building membership,” Rankin said, adding he has not yet decided whether he will run again.

Former councillor and losing 2008 Independent Voices candidate Garth Evans told the Straight he is still weighing his options, and would not rule out rejoining TEAM Burnaby, a party he left over disagreements ahead of the 2008 election.

“Last time I ran, it was different in that the party [BCA] won by default, because, being the opposition, we didn’t do our job well enough,” Evans said by phone. “We divided ourselves.”

Evans said if he and parties like TEAM Burnaby “plan this properly”, they can compete against BCA in 2011.

BCA councillor Colleen Jordan refuted Rankin’s claims of her party’s arrogance

“We are working very hard,” Jordan said. “It is always an issue when you have one-party rule, that there is no perceived opposition when we have parties. But, how do I say, I think that even within our own elected group, we have diverse opinions and we don’t always vote in a bloc.”