Parti Municipal (Saint-Léonard)

The Parti Municipal (PM) was a political party that existed from 1990 to 2001 in the suburban community of Saint-Leonard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It dominated the city's political life throughout its existence.

Origins

The Parti Municipal emerged from a split in mayor Raymond Renaud's governing Ralliement de Saint-Léonard (RdSL) party in May 1988, when Frank Zampino and seven other RdSL councillors resigned to sit as independents. Zampino's rebel group formed a majority on council and dominated its legislative activities for the next two years, even though Renaud continued to serve as mayor.

Zampino formally created the Parti Municipal to contest the 1990 municipal election.[1] He defeated Renaud in the mayoral contest, and the party won ten out of twelve seats on council.[2]

Goverance

The Parti Municipal faced little challenge to its political dominance of Saint-Leonard in the 1990s. In March 1994, the two RdSL councillors crossed the floor to join the PM.[3] There were no other organized political parties in the city after this time. Zampino and eight PM councillors were returned without opposition in the 1994 municipal election, while the four remaining PM councillors were re-elected over independent candidates.[4] In the 1998 election, every member of council was re-elected without opposition.[5]

The PM was formally dissolved in 2001, when Saint-Leonard became part of the newly amalgamated City of Montreal. Many party members, including Zampino, became members of Gérald Tremblay's Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU).[6]

References

  1. ↑ Irwin Block, "Breaking the deadlock in St. Leonard; Legislative standoff between mayor, council becomes key issue," Montreal Gazette, 24 October 1990, A6.
  2. ↑ Irwin Block, "St. Leonard votes for change as Cote St. Luc re-elects Lang," Montreal Gazette, 5 November 1990, A5.
  3. ↑ Mike King, "St. Leonard opposition joins ruling party Parti Municipal has council monopoly," Montreal Gazette, 14 March 1994, A3.
  4. ↑ Mike King, "Zampino, 8 councillors acclaimed in St. Leonard," Montreal Gazette, 18 October 1994, A6; "Voting results: the final count," Montreal Gazette, 8 November 1994, A4.
  5. ↑ Irwin Block, "Second acclamation in a row for Zampino," Montreal Gazette, 15 October 1998, A6.
  6. ↑ Jane Davenport, "Let prosperity reign: Many in St. Leonard believe merger can only enrich the lively town," Montreal Gazette, 6 October 2001, A6.