After nearly four decades, one of Montreal’s longest-serving city councillors is officially hanging up his political hat.
Marvin Rotrand, who represents the Snowdon district in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.
“For the first time since 1982 my name will not be on the ballot” he told reporters Wednesday. “I have been at work every single day for the last 39 years.”
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The municipal politician says his decision to retire is a personal one. Rotrand, 70, recently became a grandfather and would like to spend more time with his family.
“We never know how much time we have in life,” he said. “I’m in good health right now, but we don’t know what life will bring.”
Rotrand was first elected in 1982 under the Montreal Citizens’ Movement banner when Mayor Jean Drapeau was still in power. The city councillor has served under eight different mayors for the city without interruption.
He currently sits as an Independent. Rotrand also occupied the position of vice-president of the STM, the city’s public transit authority, for more than 15 years.
While he is leaving the ring, Rotrand says he’s proud to have been a city councillor and serve the area. He still plans on being active in the community.
Jacqueline Wall says her husband has been considering quitting for years. After running a long campaign, Rotrand would tell her “never again.”
“Then a few weeks later, he says, ‘Well, you know what? This is not so bad. Maybe next time,'” she said.
Rotrand will also be throwing his support behind Denis Coderre for mayor of Montreal. The latter is hoping to snag the top job once again after being ousted in 2017.
“Marvin Rotrand is man of values. He’s a man of principles,” Coderre said. “He never compromised on those. And I think he’s truly an inspiration for that.”
Montrealers will head to the polls in November.