Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ – The outgoing mayor of Gaspé will seek a fourth term in the November 2 election.
Daniel Côté believes he has too much to accomplish, after summarizing the last 12 years at the helm of the largest town in the Gaspé Peninsula.
In a press briefing held with his wife and infant, and in the presence of four councillors on June 3, Mr. Côté indicated that he consulted his family over the previous weekend, and made the decision not long after, even though he had promised to announce his intentions in May.
“For me, it is absolutely necessary that the arena be resolved. I’m tired of pushing it forward. I would like our position in the naval sector to have borne additional fruit. I expect the wind industry to have positioned itself in the Quebec market,” he listed as priorities that could be satisfactory following a possible fourth term.
Housing also remains a priority, especially following the announcement of a major housing project by Gestion Bourgade on May 27.
“It makes me think that if we want to continue growing, we have to continue investing. This is the kind of business that motivates me,” noted the elected official.
Before embarking on what could be his next term, the outgoing mayor took stock of several achievements made over the past 12 years: the redesign of the heart of Rivière-au-Renard, or the Canada’s Birthplace; the chairlift at the Mont Béchervaise ski resort; the upgrading of the downtown drinking water system; the new industrial road alongside the conversion of the LM Wind Power plant into a large industrial complex; and the approximately 500 housing units built over the past five years. The mayor isn’t afraid of opposition, having been elected by acclamation last time.
“I want democracy to be expressed. If one person comes, we’ll run a campaign worthy of the name. If no one comes, it will be shorter, simpler. I’m not ashamed of my record,” Mr. Côté asserts.
He does, however, offer one element that should generate consensus. “If someone else comes, I dare hope they’ll draw inspiration from the collaborative work we’ve done and we’ll campaign with similar content. I hope so. If someone comes along and says they’re going to reinvent what 1,500 people built together, they’ll have a hard time convincing people. I have the game plan in my pocket. It’s strategic planning. If I have an opponent, I hope they’ll base their arguments on that. People will judge the person best suited to deliver the action plan, but I’m not worried about turning the page,” says the mayor.
With the arrival of a baby, the elected official has slowed down his activities within the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ). His terms as ex-officio president, on the executive council, and on the leadership council have come to an end.
He will, however, serve as president of the Conseil des MRC, a new body within the union, while remaining president of the Air Transportation Committee and a member of the board of directors.
“We’ve made the necessary contacts in recent years. Joining the UMQ gave Gaspé a platform and allowed us to develop a network of contacts,” he notes. However, he will maintain his roles within the region, as he is president of the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Intermunicipal Transport Board and also sits on the Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie and the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Intermunicipal Energy Board.
“I’m not planning on that (to step away from some positions). I want to maintain a certain position at the national level. Regionally, I don’t think I’m too ambitious. I’m thinking of taking the place that Gaspé should have as the largest town in the Gaspé,” he says.
He also wants to keep his position as prefect of the Côte-de-Gaspé MRC. “Within the MRC, I’m the only full-time politician. I can assume a so-called full-time role at the MRC. Why? The MRC and the town are more or less the same territory. Gaspé has 86% of the population and93% of the MRC’s real estate wealth. I want to continue, that’s for sure. I want to keep positions at the regional level. The Board of Directors will decide,” Mr. Côté says.
This position also allows him to sit on the Gaspésie prefects’ table and the Regroupement of Gaspésie MRCs.
Mr. Côté also points out that the Gaspé Peninsula has several full-time mayors, an advantage in his view. “It’s a damn good deal. This isn’t the case in all regions of Quebec, which means that some files are managed part-time. When you’re on it full-time, you can manage everything full-time,” the outgoing mayor states bluntly.
Mr. Côté can count on four outgoing councillors who attended his press briefing announcing his candidacy. Among them was downtown councillor James Keays, whose name has been circulating as a possible mayoral candidate, but who is rallying behind Daniel Côté.
“What we’ve accomplished in recent years is enormous for Gaspé. The council held its own. We could have fought hundreds of times in the public square. We’ve always managed to find ways to resolve the issue, and that was achieved, among other things, thanks to Daniel’s leadership,” says Mr. Keays, who is pleased to see the outgoing mayor recommitting.