As the Green Party is busy gaining traction by establishing itself in neighbouring New West, some members are considering a run in the upcoming civic election in Burnaby.
Carrie McLaren, who has run both provincially and municipally, intends to run on Nov. 15, and may be joined by two other candidates with provincial election experience, Wyatt Tessari and Darwin Burns.
As the Burnaby NOW previously reported, the Burnaby Citizens Association members currently on council, including Mayor Derek Corrigan, intend to run in this year's election, as well, in an attempt to keep city hall in their pocket.
Tessari ran in the last provincial election, as well, and said he looks forward to giving the City of Burnaby a choice.
"It's about offering that option," he told the NOW. "I ran last time (provincially), I wasn't expecting to win, but giving people that option."
Tessari said he also wants the learning experience, but it's imperative to give a new, fresh voice on council.
"I think we can make a difference here, given that council is all one party right now," he said. "That one voice would make a big difference."
McLaren, who's run five times before, agreed with Tessari. In the 2011 election, she received 4,656 votes - only 14 per cent of the vote. She also ran in the last provincial election in the Burnaby-North riding.
"I think that council has been there for so long, but doing a good job, I will give them that, but I think they could use some more ideas, some fresh perspectives and fresh voices," she said.
In the last election, the Green Party campaigned on a platform of providing another voice on council, as opposed to taking over council, which is the same attitude they'll bring to the upcoming election.
"Aggressive is not my style," she said. "The Green style is we want ideas to come and flow and be open, and be more available. Accountability gets thrown around a lot, transparency gets thrown around a lot, but I would actually like to see that."
Both Tessari and McLaren want to make the process for selecting people for committees and commissions more open.
"Because they are chosen by council, the perception is they're all NDP or they're all very good friends," McLaren noted about who sits on the various committees at city hall. "And it's great to have friends, but you have to open it up to everyone. It doesn't matter, your background. If you live in Burnaby, you should have the chance to be on a committee."
McLaren said council currently lacks open debate, and many issues in Burnaby still need to be addressed, such as affordable housing and homelessness.
"I would love to have the doors open more," she said. "Not everything is great and rosy in Burnaby, and we'd like to help somehow - even just shining a flashlight on it."
While Tessari and Burns are still considering a run in the civic election, McLaren said the party is open to anyone interested that shares similar concerns and issues. The party intends to have election affairs sorted in the next few months.
For more information, email Tessari at [email protected], or visit www.greenparty.bc.ca.
