St-Lonard councillor Robert Zambito resigns over UPAC investigation

Montreal mayoral candidate Denis Coderre has lost a candidate in St-Lonard over an alleged kickback scheme.

Councillor Robert Zambito was running for re-election inSt-Lonard.

But Coderresaid that he has askedZambito to step out of the race.

In a written statement released today,Zambito said he decided to leave after hearing Radio-Canada's investigative program,Enqute,was planning to report that hehad profited from a land deal by taking advantage ofhis position on council.

Zambito said the allegations are false but he had decided to withdraw because of the harm the accusation could do to the Coderre team and to his colleagues.

He said he willnow devote himself to clearing his reputation.

Coderre's rivalsrespond

Two of Coderre'srivals who are running for mayor of Montreal spoke Tuesday afternoon, saying that if Montrealers want change, they need to vote for a party other than quipe Coderre.

"Mr.Coderre knew there were criminal charges in the riding of St-Lonard, and he knew the candidates he recruited [to run in his party] were in power at the time the charges date back to," mayoral candidate Mlanie Joly said.

Projet Montral's Richard Bergeronsaid Coderre's party has too many former members of ex-mayor Grald Tremblay's party, Union Montral.

"Of the 25 Union Montreal members that [Coderre]recruited with him, there is already one forced resignation," Bergeronsaid.

Robert Zambito's resignation letter

Zambito'sprofile removed from party web site