Former Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather (that still sounds funny) is now officially the Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal. He was sworn into office in the House of Commons on November 13. I had intended on making the trip, but work commitments from my day job required that I stay in the city
My council colleague and long-time close friend Glenn J. Nashen, presently our acting mayor, did go to Ottawa with his family and filed this comprehensive summary of the day.
On Thursday night I was at the Cinéstars at Plaza Côte des Neiges for an event where Anthony thanked his volunteers. Guests were invited to see the new James Bond movie Spectre. Upon arriving they each received a coupon for a complimentary drink and popcorn. Before the showing, Anthony was busy shaking hands and posing for photos. The ultimate campaigner, he is indeed keeping his team in place for the next vote four years from now.
Just before the curtains parted for Agent 007, Montreal City Councillor Marvin Rotrand welcomed everyone. Marvin has represented the Snowdon District for 33 years and played an enormous role in this campaign. While the voting was tight between the Liberals and Conservatives in Côte Saint-Luc and Hampstead, this election was going to won based on the turnout in Côte des Neiges, Snowdon and Town of Mount Royal. Those areas went overwhelmingly Liberal. TMR Mayor Philippe Roy backed Anthony publicly and Tory candidate Robert Libman`s decision not to attend a debate in the Town had a very negative impact on voters there who were still on the bubble. Rotrand took care of the area he has mastered for more than three decades.
Côte Saint-Luc Councillor Mitchell Brownstein, who also serves as the president of the Mount Royal Liberal Association, praised the volunteers for playing such a crucial role in the campaign.
Anthony made his first official hire public. Former Hampstead Councillor Bonnie Feigenbaum, a true dynamo, will serve as his constituency manager and oversee the local riding office. She will do an excellent job in this role. Anthony thanked everyone in the room, noting he had a team of more than 400 volunteers. Special mention was made of Sidney Margles, his campaign manager. There are others who could be singled out, perhaps too many to mention but I will identify the likes of Dan Pfeffer, Sonny Moroz, Mitchell Kujavksy, Toby Shulman, Mark Merson, Elaine “The Good Wife” Yagod Brownstein and Merle Margles. There is also a long list of cultural community leaders.
Bravo Anthony! Your dream has come true. Soon we will turn our attention to our choice for a new mayor in Côte Saint-Luc. Please stay tuned.
