Masella has right prescription for third mandate

Incumbent Montreal West mayor Beny Masella appeared headed for a third mandate, fending off a challenge by real-estate agent Norbert Bedoucha.

A third mayoral candidate, Cynthia Nichols, dropped out of the race Thursday.

As of 10 p.m., Masella had 681 votes to 286 for Bedoucha.

Taxes, traffic and a new arena were the main issues in the leafy west-end suburb, where many of the gracious brick houses date back to the early 20th century.

Masella, a pharmacist who has been mayor since 2009, said his administration has had to invest heavily in replacing underground infrastructure like sewers that had been neglected for decades.

With few industries, the town of 5,000 residents depends mainly on residential property taxes to maintain services. “The main concern is we have to live within our means,” Masella said.

Masella said a priority for his next term will be replacing the town’s aging arena. An application for federal-provincial funding for a new arena was recently turned down, but Masella said the town would apply again in the next month.

He said his administration’s focus on fixing infrastructure and improving parks and recreational facilities — including a new dog park behind town hall — has been helping attract young families to the community.

In addition to Masella, three out of four councillors — Maria Torres, Elizabeth Ulin, Colleen Feeney — ran for re-election. Results were not available.

Masella, who ran a pharmacy for 24 years before selling it in 2012, said his experience in town council and business made him the best candidate.

He also sits on the board of the Société de transport de Montréal.

But Bedoucha accused Masella of allowing spending and taxes to spiral out of control.

“Unfortunately, we have the distinction of having the highest debt and the highest taxes in Quebec,” Bedoucha said.

Bedoucha said he wanted to initiate a thorough review of the town’s finances. Montreal West’s debt amounts to $18.3 million, or $3,000 per resident, he added.

He also called for caution before committing to the new arena.

“Given the financial position of the town, embarking on a $20-30-million arena doesn’t make sense,” he said.

He also said the town should be taking a more proactive stance on the rebuilding of the Turcot Interchange. The removal of a railway tunnel in the former Turcot Yards and laying of tracks closer to the falaise could increase noise and vibration and threaten structures in adjoining Montreal West, Bedoucha said.

Across the island in Montreal East, incumbent mayor Robert Coutu was leading with 167 votes to 85 for his opponent, Jonathan Dauphinais-Fortin of the Équipe du citoyen.

Coutu was first elected mayor in 2009, beating longtime mayor Yvon Labrosse by only six votes.

The industrial town of 3,850, known for its giant oil refineries, has been reinventing itself with the decline of heavy industry.

Coutu is counting on a $35-million, 93-unit condo project to revive the centre of the riverfront community east of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel.