Mayoral contest tight in VSMPE
The mayoral contest is tight in Villeray–St‑Michel–Park‑Ex. The incumbent was punted out of Projet early in her term, and is running again at the head of a borough-only party called Quartiers Montreal. Projet is fielding Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, currently a councillor in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, whom the Journal says was a supporter of Guillaume Lavoie when he was running to head Projet in 2016 and thus become candidate for city mayor. Now Lavoie, who used to be a Projet councillor in Rosemont borough but didn’t run in 2017, has crossed a notional floor and is running for borough mayor in VSMPE with Ensemble.
I live in the borough, but would not be prepared to make a sizable bet on any of these three. Lavoie is slick, LLL’s fate may depend on how the electorate feels about Projet generally, and Fumagalli has to overcome any memories or doubts in the population over what happened between her and Projet. Could go any way, I think.
Update: A Twitter follower observes that NDG-CDN has a somewhat similar situation. Sue Montgomery was punted from Projet and now heads a borough-only party called Courage. Projet is fielding for borough mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, who has never held any political position. Ensemble is putting up Lionel Perez, who has spent the last four years complaining but not proposing much in the way of constructive alternatives. I kept wishing journalists would ask him “So, how would you handle this situation?” but they never did.
Jonathan 07:39 on 2021-10-17 Permalink
My bets are behind Quartiers Montréal. The idéal situation is Plante at the helm of the city and these borough level parties like QM and Courage can keep a check on her promises and push for Projet to lean back to their leftist origins.
Both Giuliana and Guillaume are out and about meeting people. But I think Laurence (who I once worked with) is resting on her laurels and just assuming she doesn’t have to lift a finger while projet volunteers do the dirty work.
Guillaume is just too corporate and too much of a mansplainer. I attended a debate put on by Peyo, the youth organization. The goal was to hear from local Park Ex candidates (I live in Villeray but still wanted to hear them). Mary Deros spoke just once to introduce herself. The entire time it was Guillaume just talking his head off while Mary just sat there (also she thinks she doesn’t have to lift a finger to win, but she’s in for a surprise because Leonora Indira King, the Quartiers Montréal candidate is really rising).
That’s my analysis, haha. Thank you for giving me your time.
Kate 10:07 on 2021-10-17 Permalink
No, it’s useful. Thank you.