Ensemble Montral announces Jean-Pierre Szaraz as candidate for Plateau-Mont-Royal mayor

Ensemble Montral has nominated Jean-Pierre Szaraz, a social media consultant, to represent the party in the byelection to replace Plateau-Mont-Royal borough Mayor Luc Ferrandez.

Szarazhas worked in the Plateau for more than 20 years however lives in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

He says he disagrees with many of the decisions made by Projet Montral's Ferrandez during his 10-year run as mayor.

"Many citizens are tired of the former mayor's un-democratic methods and want change," Szaraz said in a news release.

Among the policies he intends to campaign on isre-opening one of the softball fields in Jeanne-Mance Park.

He's spoken out publicly against many ofProjet Montral's flagship policies in past.

He was, for instance, opposedto closing Camilien-HoudeWay to vehicle traffic.

And when Szaraz was sales director at Chez Farfelu, a stationary boutique on Mont-Royal Avenue, he said reforms brought in bytheFerrandezadministration were hurting business.

Since 2013,Szarazhas worked as a self-employed community manager and social media consultant.

In 2017, he ran unsuccessfully for aPlateau-Mont-Royal borough councillor position under the quipeDenisCoderrebanner, Ensemble's previous name.

Ferrandez announced in May he was leaving municipal politics, criticizing Mayor Valrie Plante's administration for not being aggressive enough with its environmental policies.

Plateau-Mont-Royal residents will vote for their new mayor on October 6.

Luc Rabouin,director of strategic development at Desjardins Group, is the Projet Montralcandidate.