Four independent parties in LaSalle

Current LaSalle Mayor Manon Barbe received news this month that the Directeur général des élections du Québec  had officially approved her new party, Pro action LaSalle–Équipe Barbe Team. Her official representative is Jean-François Strouvens, chief operating officer at LaSalle GM.

The move creates a new beginning for Barbe, who served in the Union Montreal party until last May. Barbe hasn’t officially announced her candidates but they will likely include current LaSalle Councillors Richard Deschamps, Alvaro Farinacci, Josée Troilo, Laura Palestini and Vincenzo Cesari, all of whom resigned from Union Montreal with Barbe early last May.

Two other local parties, the Parti ville LaSalle–Équipe Moreno Team led by Francisco Moreno and the Parti alternatif LaSalle Alternative Party led by Michael Vadacchino, await authorization.

Moreno’s team includes Hélène Brouillette, Colette Gladu, Yves Daoust, Steven Laperrière and Éric Tremblay, all of whom quit Projet Montréal last March to create a locally-focused organization. At the time, they said that they were leaving the Montreal-wide organization on good terms. They are now associated with Montreal candidate Michel Benoit.

Meanwhile, Richard Bergeron has recruited Patrick Asch to run for Projet Montreal as LaSalle mayor. Asch founded the organization Heritage Laurentien, which he left when he announced his candidacy. He also works in the office of LaSalle’s MP Hélène LeBlanc, although his duties have been modified during his campaign. He hasn’t yet announced local candidates.