Bellemare enjoyed his two months at the top

By SUSAN SHERRING, Sun Media

July 11, 2009

It seems Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Michel Bellemare had his taste of the mayor’s chair - and he liked it.

“It was great, but yes, it is a big job,” Bellemare said Wednesday, the day he handed over the reins of power as acting mayor to Osgoode Coun. Doug Thompson.

“I’ve really enjoyed the meetings and functions I went to across the city. It’s a lot of work, the city is equivalent to several federal ridings,” Bellemare said.

Does that mean Bellemare is giving serious consideration to putting his name on a growing list of councillors eyeing the mayor’s race in 2010?

“Before I ruled anything out, I’d have to talk to my family,” Bellemare said.

With three young children, it was a juggling act to meet the demands of the job - and his role as a husband and father.

“I suspected it would be busy, but not the extent it actually was,” said Bellemare. “This was in fact, apparently, the busiest time of the year. I spoke to (former mayor) Bob Chiarelli and he told me that, it’s the start of summer. There are a lot of events that are dormant in winter, but in summer, there are lots of fundraisers, annual meetings, openings.”

Mayor Larry O'Brien is on a leave of absence while he faces influence-peddling charges, so councillors are filling in on a prearranged schedule based on who was going to be deputy mayor.

As he gave up the mayor’s chair, Bellemare pointed out council’s successes during his two-month tenure.

He also took the time to write his fellow councillors to thank them for their co-operation during his time at the helm.

“With the concerted efforts of city council and staff we accomplished a great deal in a very short amount of time,” he wrote to council.

He outlined much of what they approved, including a new Official Plan, new development charges, a transit route, new tree-conservation regulations, and the purchase of property for a new central library. They also secured a no strike, no-lockout agreement with transit union leaders, and opened the Shenkman Arts Centre.

Osgoode Coun. Doug Thomspon, now the acting mayor, had nothing but praise for Bellemare’s efforts.

“People like him, they really respond to him,” said Thompson.

He said organizers of a community event in Metcalfe specifically asked that Bellemare be in attendance.

“They wanted him there. I could have opened the event, I was the deputy mayor at the time, so I could have done it,” Thompson said.

“But he’s younger and better looking than I am,” he added.

Only younger, councillor!

Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Steve Desroches admitted he was surprised at how well Bellemare did.

“I think a lot of people were,” Desroches said, suggesting Bellemare has been quiet in the past and kept a low profile on council.

With the decision in Mayor Larry O’Brien’s trial still at least a month away, it’s now likely that if he’s found guilty and is forced to step aside, council would appoint a replacement instead of launching a time-consuming and expensive byelection.

While council could theoretically appoint anyone they want - the appointed mayor wouldn’t have to be a councillor - it’s more than likely they would choose one of their own.

With so many people eyeing running for mayor next year, any candidate for the interim position would have to be someone councillors don’t feel threatened by, because the person selected might gain a huge advantage by sitting in the mayor’s chair.

The list of who might be interested in running is a long one and includes Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume, Bay Coun. Alex Cullen, Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans, College Coun. Rick Chiarelli, River Coun. Maria McRae, Capital Coun. Clive Doucet and Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder.

Harder said her pick for interim mayor would be Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter - a seasoned politician who wouldn’t be interested in running for mayor.