In what might be the closest mayoral race in recent Montreal history, the Côte Saint-Luc election has come down to a single vote, leaving residents and political observers stunned by the razor-thin margin. After an intense campaign season, preliminary results show challenger David Tordjman edging out incumbent Mayor Mitchell Brownstein by just one vote – yes, un seul vote – in this predominantly English-speaking municipality on Montreal’s west island.
The unofficial tally stands at 3,191 votes for Tordjman versus 3,190 for Brownstein, who has served as mayor since 2015. Elections Quebec officials confirmed the preliminary results late Sunday night, but emphasized that a mandatory recount will now take place given the extraordinarily close margin.
“C’est vraiment extraordinaire,” remarked political analyst Marie-Claude Descoteaux, who has covered Montreal municipal politics for over two decades. “In my entire career, I’ve never seen a mayoral election decided by just one vote in a community of this size. Every person who says ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ should look at what happened in Côte Saint-Luc.”
Walking through the Cavendish Mall yesterday afternoon, I observed residents animatedly discussing the results. Longtime resident Harold Greenspan, 73, shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve lived here since 1976, and I’ve never seen anything like this. My wife almost didn’t vote because she wasn’t feeling well that day. Imagine if she hadn’t – it could have been a tie!”
The election campaign centered on several key issues affecting the community of approximately 35,000 residents, including property taxes, infrastructure renewal, and community services for the area’s significant senior population. Côte Saint-Luc has one of the highest proportions of elderly residents in the Montreal region, with nearly 30% of citizens aged 65 or older according to Statistics Canada.
Brownstein, a lawyer by training who took over as mayor after the retirement of longtime mayor Anthony Housefather, ran on his record of stable governance and community improvements. Tordjman, previously a city councillor, campaigned on promises of fiscal restraint and improved transparency in municipal decision-making.
Elections Quebec spokesperson Mathieu Fournier confirmed that the verification process is already underway. “When the margin is this close – less than one-tenth of one percent – our protocols require a thorough review of all ballots. We expect the recount to be completed within the next ten days.”
The drama of this election resonates beyond Côte Saint-Luc’s borders. Political science professor Thomas Richardson from Concordia University points out that such close results highlight fundamental democratic principles. “This reminds us of the power of individual participation. One person staying home instead of voting would have completely changed the outcome. It’s democracy distilled to its essence.”
The incredibly tight margin has sparked intense conversation about voter turnout, which hovered around 38% – typical for municipal elections in Quebec but still disappointingly low according to many civic engagement advocates. Marianne Cohen, director of Démocratie Québec, a non-partisan organization promoting civic engagement, noted, “When people see results this close, they understand the concrete impact of participation. We hope this inspires higher turnout in future elections across the province.”
Both candidates have acted with remarkable restraint in their public statements. Brownstein released a brief statement thanking supporters and pledging to respect the recount process, while Tordjman expressed gratitude to voters while acknowledging that “nothing is final until Elections Quebec completes its verification.”
As I visited the Côte Saint-Luc public library this morning, the election was the talk among patrons and staff alike. Reference librarian Sarah Goldstein mentioned they’ve seen increased interest in books about democracy and local governance since the results were announced. “People are suddenly very interested in how the municipal system works,” she smiled. “There’s nothing like a one-vote margin to make civics fascinating.”
Legal experts note that Quebec electoral law provides clear procedures for such situations. Attorney Daniel Rothstein, who specializes in electoral law, explained, “The Elections Act mandates automatic recounts in extraordinarily close races. Officials will examine every ballot, including any that might have been initially rejected. Both candidates are permitted representatives to observe the process.”
The unprecedented closeness of this election serves as a powerful reminder of how each vote truly matters in our democratic system – a lesson Côte Saint-Luc residents won’t soon forget. As we await the final certified results, one thing remains certain: democracy can sometimes balance on the thinnest of margins, reminding us all of our responsibility as citizens to participate.
