7 candidates running to be Gatineau's next mayor

The nomination period has now closed for next month'smayoral byelection in Gatineau, Que.

Seven candidates are officially running to replace former mayor FranceBlisle, who choseto step down in February. She cited death threats and a "hostile" political environment as reasons for leaving the position.

Since then, Versant Coun.Daniel Champagne has been serving asacting mayor.

• Gatineau to elect new mayor June 9

Early polls will open June 2 and run from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with election day polls on June 9 open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The City of Gatineausays voters should register to vote andbring their registration reminder and a piece of government-issued identification with them to the ballot station. Voters can confirm theirtheir electoral district and eligibility atgatineau.ca.

Here are the seven candidates who've put their names forward.

Rmi Bergeron, independent

Rmi Bergeronis a secondary school teacher.

This election marks his third time as a Gatineau mayoral candidate.

Stphane Bisson,independent

Stphane Bissonis a real estate broker.

He was also president of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce until resigning in April to run for mayor.

Yves Ducharme,independent

Yves Ducharmeis seeking to return to the mayor's chair, having previously held the positionfrom2001 to 2005. Before amalgamation, he was mayor of Hull from1992 until 2001.

He is the co-founder of a company which produces barbecue sauce and flavoured olive oil, and has been a consultant for local developerBrigil.

Daniel Feeny,independent

Daniel Feenyserved asthe director of communications and intergovernmental relations for Gatineau's mayoral office from 2021 to 2024.

He also spent 12 years as a senior executive for the National Capital Commission and volunteers for local community organizations.

Olive Kamanyana, independent

Olive Kamanyana was councillor for Gatineau's Carrefour-de-l'Hpitalward until stepping down to run for mayor in April.

As councillor, she chaired the municipality's transport, sustainable travel and security commission and the public safety commission. She was the first candidate to declare her intention to run for mayor.

Maude Marquis-Bissonnette,Action Gatineau

Maude Marquis-Bissonnetteisa professor of municipal management.

She was the councillor for Gatineau's Plateau ward from 2017 until 2021, when she ran unsuccessfully for the mayor's seat. As the leader of Action Gatineau, Marquis-Bissonnette is the only one of the seven candidatesaligned with a municipal political party.

Mathieu Saint-Jean,independent

Mathieu Saint-Jean was the People's Party of Canada candidate for the riding of Gatineau in the last federal election.

He was also the party's regional co-ordinator for the Laurentians, Outaouais, Ottawa and Glengarry-Prescott-Russell regions, a role he says he no longer holds.

Candidate photos taken by Nicholas Persaud, Simon Lasalle, Georges-tienne Nadon-Tessier, Maude Ouellet and Maxim Saavedra-Ducharme.