A fifth candidate has presented himself as a candidate to be Mayor of Montreal for four months.
Laurent Blanchard of Vision Montreal, who is also the chair of the Executive Committee, confirmed on Friday that he wishes to be interim mayor.
Four other candidates have already presented themselves.
- Jane Cowell-Poitras, formerly of Union Montreal, current pro-tem mayor
- Harout Chitilian, formerly of Union Montreal, speaker
- Francois Croteau, Projet Montreal, borough mayor of Rosemont-La Petite Patrie
- Alan DeSousa, formerly of Union Montreal, borough mayor of St. Laurent
DeSousa was a sitting member of the executive committee under former mayor Gerald Tremblay's Union Montreal.
“I have proven in the past that I am not too partisan a person and I can negotiate with every person on the city council. Every person can trust me,” said DeSousa.
Croteau was the first to deposit his nomination papers. The Projet Montreal borough mayor was initially elected under the Vision Montreal banner and switched parties in 2011.
Chitilian, born in 1980, is the youngest speaker in the history of Montreal, said public confidence in public officials in Montreal is at an all-time low.
"I am offering my candidacy as a solution to the current situation," said Chitilian.
Councillors have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to present their nominations, and city councillors will select the next mayor in a special meeting on Tuesday.
Former mayor Michael Applebaum resigned from his position on Tuesday after being charged with 14 counts of fraud, corruption, and breach of trust.
He was only chosen as mayor last November after former Mayor Gerald Tremblay stepped down in the wake of revelations about rampant corruption happening under his nose at city hall for years.
In the wake of Applebaum running to become mayor his former party, Union Montreal, ended up dissolving after seeing more than half of its members leave to sit as independents.
