Race to replace Valérie Plante heats up as two more candidates announce bids

The race to succeed Valerie Plante as leader of Projet Montreal is growing.

Over the weekend, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Kathawa announced that she's running and then on Monday it was Lachine borough Mayor Maja Vodanovic's turn.

Kathawa made the announcement in a Facebook post on Saturday while Vodanovic held a press conference in the Old Port.

“We deserve a city that takes care of its people, and I know that our movement is capable of creating that city. It's already doing so,” Kathawa wrote.

Kathawa was a nurse for 10 years before entering politics in 2021 and served as an administrator for the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. She said she is motivated by a dedication to caring for people and social justice — and sees municipal politics as the right place to do it.

Vodanovic has been working her way up the political ladder since she was elected to the Lachine borough council in 2013.

“My first priority is to revisit the financial burden on the taxpayer and for that we have to revisit the governance of our city,” said Vodanovic, adding that she also wants to tackle the traffic and homelessness issues.

Plante announced in October that she would not seek re-election. Her successor will be chosen in March.

Political analyst Justine McIntyre said neither candidate is a surprise.

“These are two women who, both hold positions on the executive committee. So, they're both, people that are very close to the mayor, people that the mayor has also helped to develop in terms of their political career. Both of them are borough mayors as well.”

Kathawa and Vodanovic will be running against Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor and executive committee chair Luc Rabouin and former Projet Montréal president Guedwig Bernier. A few others were mulling the possibility.