Option Verdun/Montréal

Option Verdun/Montréal (OVM) is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The party contested seats on the Verdun borough council in the 2013 Montreal municipal election.

Party leader

OVM is led by André Savard, who was also its candidate for borough mayor in 2013. Savard had previously been elected as a borough councillor for Desmarchais-Crawford in the 2005 Montreal municipal election as a candidate of the Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU) and was returned in the 2009 Montreal municipal election for the renamed Union Montreal.^[1] During his second term, he served as chair of the borough's public works, traffic, and public safety and security committee.^[2] Savard left Union Montreal in late November 2012 after allegations of illegal fundraising were made before the Charbonneau Commission.^[3]

2013 election

After serving for serving months as an independent, Savard formed OVM in 2013. During that year's municipal campaign, he outlined his party's approaches on matters such as poverty reduction and social housing.^[4]

Savard was defeated in the mayoral contest, and none of the OVM's candidates for city council and borough council were elected.

Election results

Electoral District	Eligible voters	Position	Turnout	Candidates													Incumbent	Result
					Équipe Coderre		Coalition		Projet Montréal		OVM		VCM		Other
—	47,677	Borough mayor	44.74%		Jean-François Parenteau 5,147 (24.81%)		Alain Tassé 2,902 (13.99%)		Mary Ann Davis 4,594 (22.14%)		André Savard 2,669 (12.86%)		Mourad Bendjennet 3,645 (17.57%)		Andrée Champoux (EAC) 1,549 (7.47%) Jency Mercier (IM) 139 (0.67%) Katherine Le Rougetel (Ind.) 102 (0.49%)		Ginette Marotte	EDC gain from Ind.
Champlain –L'Île-des-Sœurs	25,660	City councillor	45.60%		Manon Gauthier 2,972 (26.25%)		André Julien 1,612 (14.24%)		Jack L. Kugelmass 2,195 (19.39%)		Marc Touchette 833 (7.36%)		Mathieu Bélanger 2,643 (23.34%)		Jacques Gendron (EAC) 1,067 (9.42%)		Vacant	EDC gain
		Borough councillor I	45.64%		Pierre L'Heureux 3,051		Paul Beaupré 1,782		Dolores Durbau 2,149		Charles Côté 984		Jacline Leroux 2,514		Carole Anctil (EAC) 752 Abdulilah Kassem (Ind.) 109		Paul Beaupré	EDC gain from CM
		Borough councillor II	45.68%		Marie-Eve Brunet 3,051		Jean-Pierre Boivin 1,886		Stefana Lamasanu 2,313		Luce Latendresse 800		Stéphanie Raymond-Bougie 2,617		Béatrice Guay Pepper (EAC) 684		Andrée Champoux	EDC gain from EAC
Desmarchais-Crawford	22,017	City councillor	43.68%		Sébastien Dhavernas 2,095		Françoise Gloutnay 1,082		Sterling Downey 2,306		Richard Langlais 1,523		Marie-Josée Parent 1,917		France Caya (EAC) 376		Alain Tassé	PM gain from CM
		Borough councillor I	43.67%		Michelle Tremblay 2,141		Monique Trudel 1,228		Luc Gagnon 2,329		Joanne Poulin 1,431		Gladys Negret 1,773		Michèle L'Allier-Davies (EAC) 387		Ann Guy	PM gain from Ind.
		Borough councillor II	43.67%		Philippe Sarrasin 2,018		Rielle Lévesque 1,060		Marie-Andrée Mauger 2,422		Robert Auger 1,510		André-Yanne Parent 1,878		Mamad Raheemeea (EAC) 409		André Savard	PM gain from OVM

References

1. Savard had previously sought election to the same seat in the 2001 municipal election as a candidate of Vision Montreal. he was defeated by MICU's John Gallagher.
2. "Reconfiguration of L'Ile-des-Soeurs entrances/exits - Reopening of Exit 5 This Weekend," Canada NewsWire, 20 July 2011.
3. "Verdun councillor leaves civic party," Montreal Gazette, 27 November 2012, A3.
4. "Question à André Savard – Option Verdun/Montréal, candidat à la mairie d'arrondissement de Verdun", Le Messager Verdun, 30 October 2013, accessed 17 December 2013; "Élections municipales: question à André Savard - Équipe Option Verdun/Montréal, candidat à la mairie d'arrondissement de Verdun", Le Messager Verdun, 4 October 2013, accessed 17 December 2013.