After historic win, Valrie Plante says she's ready to work
Newly elected mayor says it's clear that Montrealers wanted a change in tone and leadership
Posing for photos on the steps of city hall, Montreal mayor-electValrie Plante paused for a few minutes to speak to a pint-sized admirer, a tourist from Brazil.
Plante bent down, getting on the girl's level, and her mother snapped a few cellphone photos of the two together as throngs of reporters and camera operators looked on.
Then, Planteturned to the girl, named Sophie, held herhands and told her a story.
"Yesterday I was elected the first woman mayor of the city, so this is where I'm going to work," she said, pointing to the city hall building.
"So maybe one day, you'll become, who knows, the mayor, maybe the prime minister of your country?"
A cynic may say the moment felt somewhat contrived, with all the journalists watching and scribbling notes, but it still goes a long way in demonstrating how Plante orchestrated her historic winand the impact she may have on voters of the future.
On Sunday night, Plante beat incumbentDenis Coderreto becomethe 45th mayor of the city. Shegarneredabout 51 per cent of the vote.
The43-year-old appears to have won over voters with her promise to improve public transit, alleviate traffic woes and make the city more family friendly, but also with her charm and personality, an antidote to Coderre's perceived arrogance.
- ANALYSIS |ForValriePlante, pulling off the greatest political upset in 50 years was easy. Now comes the hard part
- ValriePlanteelected mayor ofMontreal, beating out DenisCoderre
She said her 14-year-old son pointed out to her last night that one dayher name will appear in a history book. She replied that she had made that realization.
"I was like, that's impressive and it will set the example," she said.
Day 1
The mayor-elect spent Monday morning making her first appearances, meeting with commuters outside a Metro station, then speaking to reporters outside city hall.
She said it was a short night she had what she's calling a two-hour power nap but she is feeling good.
"[I'm]honoured, excited, I'm not even tired," she said.
Plantewas a city councillor in the Ville-Marie borough and is now borough mayor, so she said wanted to be in the district this morning.
The station she chose for themeet-and-greet Square-VictoriaOACI is in Ville-Marie, but also a savvychoice. It's not far from Montreal's financial district, and business people are among the groups she will need to win over during her tenure.
Several prominent members of Montreal's business community, such as Mitch Garber, publicly backed Coderre.
The locale is also symbolic because one of the main tenets of her platform wasbuilding a new Metro lineand transit issues in general.
Premier Philippe Couillardsaid he called Plante this morning to congratulate her.
Premier Philippe Couillard praises @Val_Plantes win; says it shows politics with a smile is what people want pic.twitter.com/xDOGkqlomf
—@SteverukavinaCouillarddid not answer questions about Plante's proposed Pink line, saying while he and Planteare on the same page regarding sustainable transit, there are many big transit projects on the go right now.
Plante will meet with Martin Coiteux, minister responsible for Montreal, tomorrow.
Change of tone
Plante said it's clear that Montrealers wanted a change in tone and leadership style, and she knows people are expecting a lot from her.
Her first order of business will be tied to getting Montrealers moving, she said she wants to sit down with provincial partners and the STM, Montreal's transit authority, to solve problems related to transit, such as getting more buses on the road.
She also wants to focus on the economy, and"give oxygen" to business owners.
A new look for city council
Plante wasn't the only member of her partyto score a big win in 2013, the party elected borough mayors in the PlateauMont Royal and RosemontLaPetite-Patrie neighbourhoods.
This time around, Projet Montralborough mayors were elected in 11places:
- Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
- Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce.
- L'le-BizardSainte-Genevive.
- Lachine.
- MercierHochelaga-Maisonneuve.
- Outremont.
- PlateauMont Royal.
- RosemontLa Petite-Patrie.
- Sud-Ouest.
- Ville-Marie.
- VilleraySaint-MichelParc-Extension.
Projet Montral holds the majorityof the 65 seats on city council, as34 of its candidates were elected, compared to 25 for quipe Denis Coderre. Coalition Montral holds one seat, and two borough-level teams have the other five.
Plante said the energy and encouragement from people around her for the last two weeks led her to believe change was afoot, but her teamcouldn't predict the extent.
"It's a wave. We can call it a wave, and we felt it, honestly," she said.
She said her party has proven itself in other boroughs, and that she believes it can bring a lot to Montreal.
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