Gérald Tremblay is seeking a third term as Montreal mayor. (Photo courtesy of Union Montréal)Union Montréal party Leader Gérald Tremblay is seeking his third straight mandate as mayor of Montreal, and political redemption following his handling of the city's water meter controversy.

In September, Tremblay was forced to cancel the $355-million contract – the biggest ever awarded by the city – and to ask the city's top two civil servants to step down, following a damning report by the auditor general.

The auditor was called in to investigate after it was revealed Tremblay's former right-hand man, former executive committee chairman Frank Zampino, had vacationed on board a yacht belonging to Tony Accurso.

Accurso's construction company, Simard-Beaudry, is part of the GENIeau consortium, which was awarded the contract in 2007.

Zampino was eventually hired as vice-president and chief financial officer of Desseau Inc, Simard-Beaudry's partner in the consortium, a position which Zampino has since resigned.

Tremblay said his administration has acted quickly to address questions of ethics by calling in the auditor, and by contacting police when necessary.

Tremblay served as provincial cabinet minister

Born in 1942, Tremblay graduated from the law faculty of the University of Ottawa and was called to the Quebec bar in 1970. He earned an MBA from the Harvard business school in 1972.

Involved in the business community, Tremblay was a lecturer at the École des Haute Études Commerciales, and established the Canadian franchise of the Dans un Jardin specialty boutiques with his wife, Suzanne Tailleur.

He was first elected to the national assembly in the riding of Outremont in 1989. He served as minister of industry, science and technology until the defeat of the Bourassa government in 1994.

Tremblay was first swept to power in 2001 at the helm of the Montreal Island Citizen’s Union – following the island-wide municipal merger.

The party was formed from a merger between the Montreal Citizen’s Movement and a group of suburban mayors who backed Tremblay.

Tremblay defeated incumbent mayor Pierre Bourque of the Vision Montréal party with 49 per cent of the vote.

During his first mandate, Tremblay coped with the growing pains of the new city, including negotiations with the union that now represented blue collar workers across the island.

In 2002 he created the position of ombudsman and the Office of Public Consultations.

In 2005, Tremblay was elected to a second mandate – widening his margin over Bourque by winning with 53.9 per cent of the vote.

He then saw the city through the demerger of 15 municipalities, and the creation of the new island-wide administrative structure, the Agglomeration Council.

In 2006, Tremblay introduced the Montreal Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Following the demergers, Tremblay’s party changed its name to the current Union Montréal.

In recent years the administration has faced criticism for persistent problems with aging infrastructure and concerns regarding the organization of snow removal.

Tremblay said his administration has invested record amounts to help fill potholes and prevent broken water mains.

He has also placed an emphasis on efforts to improve the cleanliness of the city, and this summer inaugurated the city’s new Festival District.