After 39 years in municipal politics, Marvin Rotrand set to call it a career

Marvin Rotrand has decided to end his career in municipal politics after serving as acity councillor for four decades.

Rotrand was first elected in the Snowdon district of what is now theCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grceborough in 1982.

Through his work,Rotrand has regularly championed causes that sought to make the borough and the city more inclusive and highlight their diversity.

Rotrandalso served on the board of directors of Montreal's transit authority, theSTM,from 2001 to 2018, save for a few months in 2017 whenhe was removed from the position.

He made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday morning.

"It's been an honour to have been the voice of Snowdon residents," Rotrand said in a statement. "I am proud to have improved the quality of life in the borough and the city with the support of residents."

Rotrand, 70, recently became a grandfather and plans to spend more time with his family.

Now that he's announced plans to step away from municipal politics, Rotrand is endorsing the candidacy of Denis Coderre, who willtry to reclaim city hall during this fall's municipal elections, nearly four years afterMayor Valrie Plantedefeated him.

Municipal elections are set for Nov. 7.

Amongthe longest-serving city councillors in Montreal's history, Rotrand has seen the city go through eight mayors.

He began his career in 1982 with theMontreal Citizens'Movement party under which Jean Dor was elected mayor in 1986.

He left that party to help formCoalition Dmocratiquein 1989. Eventually, he joined Union Montral, the city's ruling party from 2001 until Grald Tremblay stepped down as mayor in 2012 in the midst of corruption allegations.

In 2013, Rotrand joined Coalition Montreal and becamethe party's interim leader in 2016. Since 2019, he has sat in council as an independent.