MONTREAL -- Marcel Coté has added three more people to the roster of his candidates for November's municipal election, including some familiar faces.
Chief among them is Russell Copeman, 53, the former Liberal MNA for NDG, who aims to become the borough mayor for Cote des Neiges/Notre Dame de Grace.
Copeman has a lengthy history of community involvement and is currently an Associate Vice-President at Concordia University. He spent 14 years as MNA for NDG, and says he still believes public service is noble.
“I think if people of experience don't come when asked, things will never change,” he said.
Copeman said he believes Coté is the man to re-establish integrity at city hall, be said he also known that to impress voters, he will have to deliver at the local level, which for many, means better roads and sidewalks.
“We have to concentrate on repairing the infrastructure that exists currently before beginning grand projects,” said Copeman.
Copeman will face a challenge; he’s running against Lionel Perez, the current NDG-CDN borough mayor, who is on Team Coderre.
Fellow Team Coderre candidate Anie Samson said the choice is clear.
“We're the ones who have the most experience for Montreal. We are working for Montreal… the other candidates are all working for a coalition against Denis Coderre,” she said.
Marvin Rotrand, who has been the city councillor for Snowdon since 1982, is also joining Coté's coalition. Rotrand was a member of Union Montreal until last year when he left the party in the wake of Mayor Gerald Tremblay stepping down. He is currently the vice-president of the STM.
“(Coté) really wants to bring citizens in - you have something to say - we'll listen, that brought me in right away,” said Rotrand on his decision to join the party.
Landing the two candidates was a huge coup, said Coté.
“We're looking for people who are free to speak their own mind,” he said.
The third new candidate is Martin Bergeron, who has been running a political think tank since last September. Prior to that he was Director for Strategy and Policy for the Board of Trade.
The election will be held November 3.
