Former Bloc MP elected as Longueuil mayor
Caroline St-Hilaire says she is ready to clean house at city council
Last Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009 | 5:35 AM ET
CBC News
Former Bloc Québécois MP Caroline St-Hilaire was elected mayor of the city of Longueuil on Montreal's South Shore on Sunday, ousting a party that has been in power for 27 years.
Caroline St-Hilaire will lead a minority council in Longueuil. (CBC) Hilaire, leader of the Action Longueuil Party, defeated Jacques Goyette — currently the chairman of the city's executive committee.
Goyette had succeeded outgoing Mayor Claude Gladu at the helm of the Parti Municipal Longueuil.
In a speech to supporters, St-Hilaire called her election a victory for democracy, and promised to put the city on the "road to ethics, integrity and transparency."
St-Hilaire will have a minority on city council, with the Parti Municipal Longueuil having won 16 of 26 seats.
The former Bloc MP and daughter of the late Longueuil city councillor Jean St-Hilaire called on members of the opposition party and mayors of de-merged municipalities on the South Shore to work with her "to restore harmony at the agglomeration [council]."
The agglomeration council oversees the management of shared services in the region.
In an interview with CBC's French-language service, St-Hilaire said she would also work with the provincial government to "clean house" in municipal politics.
She said the political class has a "collective responsibility" to regain the public's confidence.
St-Hilaire will have a minority on city council, with the Parti Municipal Longueuil having won 16 of 26 seats.
