Montreal North police veteran runs for mayor

Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay has announced that veteran police officer Gilles Deguire will run for mayor in Montreal North this fall.

Tremblay said Thursday that Deguire is the perfect candidate to help build a united and strong community in the borough. Deguire said he has a strong community-oriented background, especially when it comes to dealing with youth.

Deguire worked for 30 years with the Montreal police department, specifically with the youth crimes prevention squad and later as an investigator for the department's sexual crimes unit.

Montreal North has a history of problems between police and youth, especially in the past year after Fredy Villanueva, 18, was shot and killed by police. His death sparked widespread rioting and protests in the borough.

Deguire left the police department in 1999 to enter politics. He has worked for 10 years alongside Bourassa-Sauvé MNA Line Beauchamp and is Union Montreal's vice-president in the east end of the island.

Deguire is hoping to replace incumbent Mayor Marcel Parent in the municipal elections slated for Nov. 1.

Deguire also confirmed on Thursday who his Union Montreal team of candidates will be in the borough:

• In the Marie-Clarac district, Clementina Teti-Tomassi will run as city councillor and Chantale Rossi will run as borough councillor.
• In the d'Ovide-Clermont district, Jean-Marc Gibeau will run as city councillor and Monica Ricourt will run as borough councillor.