Sue Montgomery joins Projet Montréal, hopes to run for mayor of CDN-NDG
Former Montreal Gazette journalist vies to replace Russell Copeman in municipal election
Former Montreal Gazette journalist Sue Montgomery is throwing her hat into the ring, hoping to become the new mayor of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
She's aiming to sit on the ballot as the Projet Montréal candidate who will challenge the current CDN-NDG borough mayor, Russell Copeman, for his job in the November 2017 municipal election.
Montgomery announced her candidacy today.
"Municipal politics is the level where you are closest to the people," she told CBC.
"I would like to bring in more democracy. I would like to work together with the residents because I think we have incredible people living here that are very engaged and a lot of community organizations. I would like to tap into the energy and bring them in to be more involved."
This isn't the first time Montgomery has stepped into the political arena, running for the NDP nomination in the federal riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount in 2015.
She ultimately lost to Jim Hughes in a hotly contested race to face off against current Liberal MP and federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau.
Montgomery was most recently working as the senior communications adviser to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Her policy focus lines up with her background as a social justice advocate; her priorities, she says, are roadwork, local businesses, housing and more green spaces for families.
Projet Montréal gathering strength
Montgomery's announcement comes a day after Southwest borough mayor Benoit Dorais announced he`d be joining the Projet Montréal ticket.
He now joins the ranks of all the other councillors in the Southwest borough, who are with Projet Montréal as well.
"I feel with this team, we have a real chance to make a difference," wrote Montgomery in a news release issued Thursday.
Over the past year, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has also been securing his ranks, adding two other high-profile city politicians, borough mayors Russell Copeman and Réal Ménard, to his party.
With files from Matt D'Amours