Retired judge John Gomery was his usual outspoken self as he announced a jump into municipal politics Monday, saying that Montreal city hall was surrounded by a "very bad stench" of corruption allegations.

Gomery, best known for presiding over the inquiry into the federal sponsorship scandal four years ago, announced that he'll serve as honourary chairman of Project Montreal's fundraising campaign.

Project Montreal, led by Richard Bergeron, is the third party in Montreal politics and runs on a green-themed platform while calling for a crackdown on corruption.

Gomery says he's concerned about the spate of recent scandals at city hall, many of which are the subject of ongoing police investigations.

"I am honestly very troubled, more troubled than I have ever been, by the state of the City of Montreal," Gomery told a news conference in Old Montreal.

"There are obviously dubious questions about conflicts of interest and contracts that raise suspicions. There is a very bad stench that surrounds the current city administration and I find that my fellow citizens are discouraged and cynical."

The advantage of inexperience

Gomery said the fact that Project Montreal has never been in power was an advantage because the party has not been tainted by any of the recent scandals.

He says he decided to join the party after speaking with his daughter Cym, who is the party's N.D.G. candidate in the municipal elections set for November.

Scandal rundown

Tremblay, who is seeking re-election this November, has been on the defensive most of this year amid allegations ranging from alleged corruption and extortion to fraud, none of which involves the mayor personally.

The latest alleged malfeasance emerged in June involving the project to replace the roof at City Hall.

The Surete du Quebec is investigating the contract following a media report that a mobster asked contractor Paul Sauve to pay off two city councillors to guarantee that he could stay on the project.

Sauve says he never paid the bribe.

Water-meter scandal

Chief among the scandals is a $355 million water-meter contract, the largest in city history, which Tremblay suspended this spring after a firm that landed the contract was raided on allegations of tax fraud.

The mayor's former right hand man, Frank Zampino, was involved in the scandal when it was revealed that he vacationed on the yacht of the man whose firm was raided.

The friend, Tony Accurso, had been chosen to co-manage the water-meter contract along with another firm, Dessau, which hired Zampino after he left politics last year.

Zampino later quit Dessau when the connection was reported.