A former long-serving MNA hopes his political experience will convince Laval residents to choose him as mayor.
Jean-Claude Gobe, the leader of the Action Laval party, introduced six candidates Wednesday evening at a cocktail fundraiser.
Gobe said that close to 40 percent of Laval residents are first or second-generation Quebecers like himself, so he is pleased his party's candidates are a diverse group.
"With them we want to change the practice. You talk about transparency yes? Firstly we will open everything in Laval with the new system, open government," said Gobe.
Members of the party say they are outraged by Laval's serious problems, including the allegations that every sitting councillor broke the rules on fundraising, which forced the provincial government to put the city under trusteeship.
"As a citizen of Laval like the other citizens, I don't accept the situation," said Gobe.
In fact at this first cocktail fundraiser particular attention was paid to the fundraising rules.
"We were very strict, everything must be good. We cannot accept money with a big amount: only the price of the ticket," said Gobe.
The other candidates for Action Laval have little or no political experience, but say they can no longer stand by and let Laval's problems fester.
They stand behind Gobe as their preferred candidate for mayor.
"I've gotten to know Jean-Claude Gobe because we also live in the same neighborhood and he was always someone of integrity," said Archille Cifelli.
But candidate Julius Bute, a former judo world champion says ordinary citizens also have to play their part to turn things around.
"I would like the citizens to be involved in the city and make the city a very beautiful and family city," said Bute.
Party members said they hope the decades of one-party rule in Laval are over. and they are looking forward to the competition.
"People have the right to propose to the others, to the citizens, other vision or their inspiration. It's a democracy, said Gobe.
