1. Gilles Lehouillier
Although many automatically exclude him from the starting line, Gilles Lehouillier is far from having given up on running for a fourth term.
After more than 35 years in the public space, the elected official claims to be “still hesitant” about his political future.
Gilles Lehouillier has been the mayor of Lévis since 2013.
(Jocelyn Riendeau/Archives Le Soleil)
He assures that politics “still tempts him” and that he still has plans for Lévis.
One thing is certain, Gilles Lehouillier is still popular in Lévis. Last June, a survey SOM-The Sun reported a solid satisfaction rate of 66% for the man who has led Lévis for 13 years.
He promised to make his decision in January 2025, claiming to be well aware that it risks influencing the thinking of many potential candidates.
If he does not run again, his party, Lévis Force 10, will appoint a new leader selected by a selection committee made up of senior members of the party and citizens.
2. Serge Bonin
When he was elected municipal councilor of Saint-Étienne in 2021, Serge Bonin was the only member of the municipal council not to be part of Mayor Lehouillier’s team.
He now aims to replace him as mayoral candidate for Repensons Lévis, after the party showed its last leader the door.
The jump to town hall is a gamble for Mr. Bonin, since there is no running mate during the elections in Lévis.
The leader of Repensons Lévis, Serge Bonin, is playing big by trying his luck at town hall.
(Caroline Grégoire/Archives Le Soleil)
In other words, if he does not become mayor, he will not be able to fall back on a councilor position and will be excluded from the municipal council.
Everything indicates that Mr. Bonin and Repensons Lévis will campaign on what they describe as “loss of control” of development in Lévis by Mayor Lehouillier. The decentralization of decisions and public transportation are also two themes dear to the party which currently plays the role of opposition.
3. Steven Blaney
Former federal minister Steven Blaney could well also be on the starting line for the next municipal elections.
Last April, he confided in an interview to Soleil think about entering the race to succeed Mayor Lehouillier. He even suggested that he could replace him at the head of the Lévis Force 10 party.
Steven Blaney has registered a party name with the DGEQ. (Patrice Laroche/Archives Le Soleil)
But barring a surprise, that won’t be the case. Mr. Blaney recently reserved the party name “Prospérité Lévis” with the Director General of Elections of Quebec.
The one who represented Lévis in Ottawa under the conservative banner between 2006 and 2019, however, insists “not having made a decision” on the idea of launching or not, despite reserving the party name.
In writing, the possible candidate for mayor claims to still be considering.
But “it is certain that the high quality of people ready to get involved alongside me fuels my enthusiasm and my desire to work for the people of Lévis,” he specifies.
A source close to Mr. Blaney specifies that the ex-MP will wait out of “respect” for Mayor Lehouillier’s decision before announcing his intentions.
4. Isabelle Demers
The town hall ambitions of the finance manager of the Lehouillier administration, Isabelle Demers, are an open secret in Lévis. Many attribute to her the title of dauphine of the mayor of Lévis, of whom she is the right arm.
It is common knowledge that she aims to replace Gilles Lehouillier at the head of Lévis Force 10 if the mayor decides to bow out in 2025.
Isabelle Demers has been hoping to become mayor of Lévis for several years. (Jocelyn Riendeau/Archives Le Soleil)
But since Ms. Demers has cherished the dream of becoming mayor for years, it is not excluded that she will run even if the mayor asks the Lévis residents for a new mandate.
In 2013, she presented herself as an independent against Gilles Lehouillier, who was ultimately elected with 2,600 votes in advance.
Asked to comment, Isabelle Demers confirms “that her interest is still very present for the town hall”.
“The mayor has not yet made his decision and as I am loyal and respectful, I will wait for his decision before making a definitive decision,” she wrote. It was he who allowed me to return to politics, in his team, in 2017.
But, “as I often say, I am ready,” she adds.
5. Marie-Josée Morency
The president and general director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Greater Lévis (CCIGL), Marie-Josée Morency could also try to become mayor of Lévis.
The president and general director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Greater Lévis, Marie-Josée Morency. (Caroline Grégoire/Archives Le Soleil)
The Sun recently revealed that she had several discussions with members of the Lévis business community in order to gauge their support for a , which Ms. Morency confirmed.
However, she claims not to have made a decision and insists that for the moment she is focused on her role at the CCIGL.
“However, I remain open to future opportunities that may arise to serve our community in even more meaningful ways,” she added.
