Time for West Island to focus on elections closer to home

Now that West Islanders have re-elected all their Liberal MPS in landslides in Monday's federal election, it's time to focus on the closer-to-home municipal election campaigns.

While the city of Montreal's municipal elections are dominated by a party system, in which a team is often defined by its mayoral candidate, most demerged West Island suburban municipalities have candidates running as independents.

In some cases, candidates who technically are running as independents might be part of an unofficial slate, whereby like-minded council candidates will campaign for or endorse a preferred mayoral option and vice versa. There were unofficial slates in the Beaconsfield election in 2009 when outgoing councillor David Pollock challenged Bob Benedetti, the incumbent mayor at the time. While Pollock won, council candidates from both slates were elected. It turned out to be a polarized term in office, and two councillors who were on Pollock's unofficial slate during the campaign became the mayor's detractors during the mandate.

In general, it's a good idea if someone serves as a city councillor before striving to be mayor. The list of such people includes many long-serving mayors in West Island history, such as Peter Yeomans in Dorval and Bill Mcmurchie in Pointe-claire. Alex Bottausci in Dollard-desormeaux and Kirkland's Michel Gibson also previously served as councillors, but didn't wait for longtime incumbents to retire before seeking the mayor's job.

However, a lack of council experience didn't stop Beaconsfield's Georges Bourelle, now seeking his third mandate, and Pointe-claire's John Belvedere, seeking his second term, from being elected mayor. Belvedere bested longtime councillor Aldo Iermieri in a four-way mayoral race in 2017, which also included Tim Thomas, who is vying again for the post this fall.

Most West Island candidates in demerged cities run as independents, but there are rare exceptions, such as the Action Dorval party, now led by Marc Doret, who is replacing Edgar Rouleau. The party is not challenging incumbent independent councillor Christopher von Roretz in District 5, but welcomed Paul Trudeau into its fold. Trudeau ran as an independent in 2017, defeating Claude Valiquet in District 1. Valiquet was then part of Rouleau's party, but is running now as an independent for his old post.

Candidates in Beaconsfield are independents, but Bourelle said he “would be very pleased if the current councillors were all re-elected.” The mayor also is backing District 6 candidate Peggy Alexopoulos, who was elected to council in 2013 but did not seek re-election in 2017. (The District 6 seat has been vacant since the death of Al Gardner last year.)

Asked if he is endorsing anyone for Pointe-claire mayor, District 7 incumbent councillor Eric Stork responded that the “citizens of Pointe-claire can formulate their own conclusions,” but added he “will diligently work” with whoever is elected.

West Island voters will have their say at the ballot box when civic elections are held Nov. 7. Those brave enough to seek office have until Oct. 1 to file nomination papers.