For the first time in over 100 years, Pointe-Claire voters have chosen a mayor to lead them that didn't first sit as a councillor. John Belvedere handily defeated all challengers on Sunday night, doubling the results of his closest rival.
"People wanted change," the entrepreneur told CJAD 800 News after he officially won the town mayorship, garnering 60 per cent of the vote.
Belvedere amassed 6,268 votes to cruise to victory. Outgoing councillor Aldo Iermieri came in second with 3,125 votes in his favour.
Garbage, taxes and development have been the big election issues, and Belvedere says he still plans to increase garbage pickup to once a week in the summer months in the short term.
"It's one of the first things [on my list]," he said. "We have a few months to organize that and we shall do that, and we'll look for other practises to make it better."
Belvedere lost to outgoing mayor Morris Trudeau in 2013. Despite running against him and again to succeed him, the mayor-elect says he is looking to make further progress on the success of his predecessors.
"My job now is to move [Pointe-Claire] forward like they did. Of course I'll do things a little bit different but they left a really good foundation, and we are going to build on that."