Lennoxville election meet-and-greet draws limited audience

Most of the candidates running for city or district councilor positions in Lennoxville, as well as three of those running for Mayor of Sherbrooke, were out to meet the public on Wednesday night at gathering in the basement of the Hope Community Church. Organized by candidates Roy Patterson and Michael Labarre, the gathering was a simple open-house style event where local residents were invited to come and get to know the people looking to be a part of their local municipal government.

Labarre estimated that 50 to 60 people came out at some point in the evening and said that both he and Patterson were pleased with the outcome. The majority of visitors, he said, came for the first half of the event and made the rounds of all of those candidates present.

Mayoral Candidate Denis Pellerin said that he felt the turnout was small.

“(People) are all either not interested or they’ve made up their minds,” Pellerin said, before admitting that some may have been too busy to come out.

Pellerin was joined by opponents Hélène Pigot and Patrick Tétreault. Fellow mayoral candidates Steve Lussier and Bernard Sévigny did not make an appearance.

Lennoxville Borough President candidate Claude Charron and Fairview district councilor candidate Bertrand Collins also did not come to the event.

One of those who made the trip out to the event was Lennoxville Residents’ Association President Steve Pankovitch. The LRA President pointed out that anyone interested in the upcoming election who was not able to make it out on Wednesday has a second chance next Monday night at the Presbyterian Church in Lennoxville, where the association will be hosting an open forum with the local candidates starting at 6:30 p.m.