Newcomer Steve Lussier elected new mayor of Sherbrooke

Voters in Sherbrooke have elected political newcomer Steve Lussier as their new mayor, pushing out Bernard Svigny, who was seeking a third mandate.

This was Lussier's first time running for a seat at city council.

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The 42-year-old mortgage development advisor andreal estate developer campaigned on a promise of combing through thecity's finances.

"I really feel like I'm in my element," an elated Lussiersaid from Sherbrooke city hall Sunday night.

Lussier, originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,ran as an independent, promising he'd only seek two mandates if he was electedmayor.

Svigny'sdefeat ends a 16-year career in municipal politics. He was first elected councillor in 2001.

The$50-millionWell Inc. project, which the outgoing mayorpushed as a rejuvenation project for downtown Sherbrooke, was controversial from the start.

Fewer seats at city council

The other threecandidates running for mayorwere HlnePigot, Patrick Ttreaultand Denis Pellerin.

The total number of seats at city hall has gone down in this election from 19 to 14, after Sherbrooke merged several districts in 2016, trimmingthe number of boroughs from six to four.

Lennoxvillewas the only borough left untouched, while others, includingBrompton, lost their status.

Claude Charron, who ran on a platform of preserving Lennoxville'sborough status, was elected borough president.

Charron said he's worried by Lussier's lack of political experience.

"It will be something else," Charron said."They'll have to rely on councillors with experience.''

Lussieralso isn't comfortable in English, which may be a thorn in the side of some voters in Sherbrooke's only borough with bilingual status, but Charronsaid it wouldn't pose a problem.

"There's always a way to manage," he said.