CSL councillors re-elected

By Joel Goldenberg

The few Côte St. Luc councillors who faced challengers in Sunday’s election were easily re-elected to their seats, with large margins.

District 4 councillor Steven Erdelyi was re-elected with a mind-blowing 94.4 percent of the vote, to challenger Charles Lemieux-Marchand’s 5.6 percent. Erdelyi even bested councillor Mike Cohen’s impressive 92 percent tally of 2005. Veteran councillor Allan Levine was re-elected with 74.4 percent of the vote to challenger Leo Sculnik’s 25.6 percent. Mayor Anthony Housefather and the rest of council were acclaimed.

But the media spotlight was on District 6, where councillor Glenn Nashen won with 65.8 percent of the vote, to Charles Lugassy’s 30 percent and Sonia Cohen-Peillon’s 4.3 percent. This race was more bitter, as there were accusations of attempting to split the community on a Sephardic-Ashkenazi basis, violations of rules at polling stations and a “gang-up” in terms of Mayor Anthony Housefather supporting all the sitting councillors. The candidates had lively debates on Radio Shalom and CJAD.

Nashen, reached by phone, said there was a 40 percent turnout for his district.

“It’s a very decisive victory, considering the race we just encountered and I take that as a sign from the residents of District 6 that they favour my position of a one united Côte St. Luc community, not one divided into different groups,” said the councillor, who is in charge of the public security portfolio on council. “That means all Côte St. Lucers, regardless of their country of origin or language or religion. That’s what makes Côte St. Luc a special place, and we’ll continue to make Côte St. Luc a special place.”

Nashen pointed only congratulated Cohen-Peillon for the tone of her campaign, and said he will speak to her about issues she has.
Levine said he was proud to win all of his polls, and six straight elections since 1986.

“My wife and I love the door to door campaigning, and we hit every door,” he said. “I am extremely grateful to my 750 loyal voters, who I know personally, and who have never let me down.”

Erdelyi thanked District 4 residents “for their support and for placing their confidence in me once again. I also would like to thank the volunteers that helped me with my campaign.

“It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of Côte St. Luc over the last four years. I look forward to four more years and hope to continue working to make Côte St. Luc the best place to live not only on the Island of Montreal, but in Quebec and all of Canada.”