Defeated as a mayoral candidate in 2005, he got his sweet revenge when 2,801 voters (58.75%) elected him, defeating Josée Troïlo of the Montreal Union party who garnered 1,811 votes (37.98%). The third candidate, Beatriz Guarin of the Projet Montréal party obtained 156 votes (3.27%). Voter participation rate was only 18.37%.
The controversy over the local tax played a role in generating dissatisfaction among residents. The leader of Vision Montréal, Benoit Labonté, and his newly elected representative in LaSalle waged a major battle by promising to abolish the local tax and to increase transfers to Boroughs if they take over the City of Montreal on November 1, 2009. Michael Vadacchino becomes the first elected candidate of Vision Montréal and the official representative of the Opposition in Borough Council.
The crowd was all hyped up in the Shevchenko Boulevard office.
Supporters and a dozen elected officials of Vision Montréal applauded their heroes.
Michael Vadacchino thanked his team and his leader: “Ladies and gentlemen of LaSalle, this victory is yours. We had a hard battle to fight and we succeeded. I thank Benoit Labonté who believed in me. I promise that I will be there for you. Today, we start day 1 of our November 1, 2009 battle, with me as Mayor of LaSalle and Benoit Labonté as Mayor of Montreal. Boroughs must provide 100% of local services; receiving only 22.6% of the City’s budget forces them to impose local taxes. The transfer must be increased in proportion to the City budget so that the quality of services can be maintained – snow clearing, garbage collection – without imposing additional taxes on residents.”
Benoit Labonté praised this victory. “It’s just the beginning. Michael launched an extraordinary campaign and has been fighting for residents’ interests for years. Vision Montréal brings about change and LaSalle residents were the first ones who understood that. This change is about to spread throughout Montreal. Sixty percent of the residents believed in our vision and they’re telling the present administration that enough is enough. Stop the arrogance! It is the fifth partial election since 2005, during which the majority of voters have voted against the Tremblay administration.”
Borough Mayor Manon Barbe was disappointed with the results and praised the qualities of the defeated Union Montreal candidate, Josée Troïlo. She reminded people that the tax increases in 2009 are linked to the increases in the value of houses which has doubled since 1992, and are not linked to local taxes.
