Lionel Perez from Ensemble Montréal (Équipe Denis Coderre) was projected to be the borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) in Quebec’s 2021 municipal election on Sunday night.
Come Monday morning however, the results had swayed in favour of Gracia Kasoki Katahwa of Projet Montréal, who led Perez by 83 votes.
Kasoki Katahwa amassed 37,48 per cent of the vote (11,940) votes compared to Perez’s 37,22 per cent (11,857 votes).
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The biggest upset of the evening, however, was incumbent mayor Sue Montgomery’s fourth place finish behind Matthew Kerr from Mouvement Montréal (Équipe Balarama Holness).
Montgomery only managed to garner 9,69 per cent of the vote nixing her chances of winning a second mandate as borough mayor.
Montgomery held the role of CDN-NDG borough mayor since the last municipal election in 2017.
First elected in 2017, Montgomery has faced her share of political scandal as borough mayor. She was kicked out of the Projet Montréal caucus after her former chief of staff Annalisa Harris faced harassment allegations.
This led to a years-long saga pitting Montgomery and Harris against the City of Montreal, which lead to ethics complaints filed against Montgomery.
Quebec’s municipal commission (CMQ) found Montgomery guilty of 11 ethical breaches while in office. The report cleared her of 17 other charges.
Montgomery then formed her own Courage party, Équipe Sue Montgomery.
It is not yet known whether Perez who has held the role of city councillor for the Darlington district with Ensemble Montréal, will ask for a recount.