By Francine Bastien

On November 2nd, the voters of Brome Lake chose experience and continuity. However, they did not vote for the status quo. Nearly 3,000 residents cast their ballots, and 172 votes separated the new mayor from his main opponent. The race was close; issues related to urban planning and real estate development dominated the campaign and will continue to be a concern for citizens.

The new Council will have to respond to criticism in ways other than simply stating – as was often heard at the meetings of the previous Council – that new developments can proceed “since they comply with the regulations.” Citizens want more than that.

Commitments from Mayor Lee Patterson

During his campaign, Mayor Lee Patterson made several commitments:

“I will champion a comprehensive, community-driven urban plan that aligns development with our infrastructure, services, and natural environment.” He also promised “stricter zoning… we will enforce zoning regulations to prevent overdevelopment.”

And finally: “Transparency in development: every project will be publicly evaluated, with full transparency and active citizen participation.”

This is a significant turning point. Now action needs to follow words.

The Need for Clear Priorities and Teamwork

The new Council will have to immediately define its priorities and, above all, work as a team to achieve the objectives desired by the population and to which the newly elected officials have committed themselves.

The most beautiful promises have no future if the Council lacks cohesion. Recent history in Lac-Brome (Council 2009-2013) has painfully demonstrated this.

Experience and Vigilance Moving Forward

The new mayor and re-elected councillors Pierre Laplante and Patrick Ouvrard’s familiarity with the workings of the municipal system should allow progress to be made without delay. The danger would be to forget too quickly the mistakes and missteps of the recent past. Citizens must remain vigilant.

Strong Voter Turnout

The 53.4% citizen participation in these last elections, well above the Quebec average, gives hope that Lac-Brome will take a new turn in urban planning and development while staying focused on what makes our municipality strong and attractive.

Let’s not forget that we voted for continuity, but not the status quo!