Four candidates are vying to succeed Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin as she steps away from municipal politics. Among them, only one contender lacks political experience. The race features familiar faces, each with distinct stances on key issues that voters consider pivotal for the upcoming Nov. 2 election.
Raïs Kibonge, now leading Sherbrooke Citoyen after serving as a city councillor, aims to address the persistent housing crisis by progressively boosting the city’s housing budget from $8 million to $12 million by 2029. His party’s focus includes enhancing green spaces, expanding public transit services, and tackling housing affordability issues, as evidenced by launching the Samson-Côté Commission to address housing challenges in Sherbrooke.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, an Independent candidate with a strong political background as a former Liberal MP, emphasizes budgetary discipline and responsible spending. She plans to invest in water and sewer infrastructure to lift construction restrictions and accelerate approval processes. Bibeau also intends to review contentious projects like the Queen Street bike path extension to ensure balanced development while protecting the environment.
Vincent Boutin, an Independent and former city councillor, emphasizes the need for more affordable housing units and proposes an 11-step plan to expedite housing projects. He advocates for investing in water treatment infrastructure to lift construction moratoriums and supporting community groups that promote sports accessibility and cultural activities.
Guillaume Brien, leader of Vision Action Sherbrooke, a new municipal party, lacks political experience but brings extensive housing expertise. Brien aims to increase the construction of social and affordable housing units from 1,500 to 2,000 annually. He emphasizes the importance of understanding concrete solutions to address the housing crisis, drawing on his decades-long involvement with housing cooperatives.
Each candidate offers distinct visions for Sherbrooke’s future, focusing on critical issues such as housing affordability, infrastructure development, and community engagement. The upcoming mayoral election will determine who will lead the Eastern Townships’ largest municipality into the next chapter of its development.