WESTMOUNT FACES CHOICE
Trent stepping down opened race for mayor
Voters in Westmount are about to embark on a relatively unfamiliar odyssey. For the first time in what seems to be ages, they will be heading to the polls Nov. 5 for a truly contested election to vote for a new city of Westmount mayor whose name is not Trent.
Based on a random, decidedly unscientific survey conducted on Greene Ave., it would appear the majority of residents I interviewed are in the dark about whom they wish to become their mayor, let alone what the candidates stand for. But most pledge to do their homework before heading to the polls.
Peter Trent had been unopposed as Westmount mayor through five terms, over a period from 1991 to 2013. (Karen Marks was mayor from 2002 to 2005 after Westmount was merged into the supercity and again, in an essentially uncontested election, from 2006 to 2009.)
Rather than go for a sixth term, Trent stepped down from office last April.
The author of the acclaimed 672-page opus Merger Delusion: How Swallowing Its Suburbs Made an Even Bigger Mess of Montreal — which speaks to Trent’s philosophy of the forced Montreal merger — has since turned his attention to more writing as well as political punditry.
After Trent’s resignation, Westmount city council appointed Coun. Christina Smith interim mayor. Smith, who has been endorsed by Trent, will be vying for the mayoralty full-time, running against longtime councillor Patrick Martin and Suburban editor Beryl Wajsman.
University professor Matthew Penney echoed the sentiments of most: “I’m going to wait until the election day is closer and then I will go online to look at the individual profiles of the candidates. I do think, however, some more diversity of ideas as well as gender and ethnic diversity is needed in city hall.”
Real estate developer and promoter Philip O’Brien was similarly undecided and planned to study their respective ideas. But he hopes the winner will take a stand on co-ordination between the cities of Westmount and Montreal over planning of housing units and businesses to come to the area in the vicinity of the old Montreal Children’s Hospital and the old Forum.
“The use of space and traffic in the area is going to change drastically,” O’Brien said. “We will need someone with vision, but vision is an art, and not too many people practise it.”
Retiree Howard Blatt has been paying attention to the three candidates, but so far has no preference: “Every time I listen to each one separately my opinion changes, but what is certain is that this election is going to be something unusual here.”
Retiree Deirdre McIlwraith was also circumspect about whom she favoured, but was hoping for some diversity of ideas as well as a focus on taxes, beautification, road construction and safety. “Because it’s no longer the acclamation of an incumbent, the race will be more exciting,” McIlwraith said.
Université de Montréal student Alma Tamez also stated she was unfamiliar with the candidates: “I’m embarrassed I don’t know more because I study political science. It would be nice to have a woman mayor, but I will study all the candidates before deciding.”
Roz Wiener, president of the Cummings Centre, pretty much concurred with Tamez: “I’m not proud of this, but I haven’t really looked into each of the candidates’ stories. I would tend to vote for a woman mayor, but honestly I haven’t done the research.”
The gender card could clearly come into play.
“I heard Smith speak at the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, and I was quite impressed,” noted Ursula, a retired art historian. “So I might vote for her. And she’s a woman, and I heard that Peter Trent has endorsed her.”
“Who am I going to vote for? Probably Christina, because Peter Trent did such a fantastic job and he has recommended her,” reasoned Kate Lund, who volunteers at the Chez Doris women’s shelter. “So why not carry on the good stuff?”
Jerry Gross, a former furniture manufacturer, was one of the few who was most clear about his choice: “Wajsman is my man. I like the work he’s done at the Suburban, but I do think it could lead to a conflict of interest if he is elected mayor and he holds on to his job as editor as he has said he would. I think running the city is a full-time job.”
Paul, an engineer, was also unequivocal about his pick: “I believe Patrick Martin is best qualified. He is a veteran city councillor who has handled the Westmount public-works portfolio and oversaw the building of the new arena complex.”
Tony Fargnoli, owner of Greene Ave.’s landmark 80-year-old Tony Shoes, had different concerns from most residents, such as lowering business taxes: “The new mayor should cater to these businesses as much as to the residents. The business environment is very difficult, and small businesses are paying a high percentage of the taxes compared to the footprint they occupy.”
But Fargnoli, like most of the interviewees, was still undecided: “I’m more a listener than a decision-maker right now. I have no objection to the gender of any candidate. I have an objection to the person who can’t do the job.”