Réal Charest

Réal Charest is a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He served on the Montreal city council from 1986 to 1994 as a member of the Montreal Citizens' Movement (MCM).

Early life and career

Charest is a life insurance underwriter in private life. He has also served as a caisse populaire administrator, the vice-president of a mental-illness research foundation, and an administrator of a seniors' residence.[1]

He was initially a prominent supporter of Jean Drapeau's Civic Party of Montreal, serving as chief organizer for its candidate in the Marie-Victorin ward for two elections during Drapeau's tenure as mayor. His decision to leave the Civic Party in 1986 and join the MCM came as a surprise to many. Charest has said that Drapeau "didn't say a word for eight to 10 seconds on the phone when I told him," adding, "and that's something, coming from the mayor."[2]

City councillor

Charest was elected for the Marie-Victorin ward in the 1986 municipal election, in which the MCM won a landslide victory.[3] He was re-elected to a second term in the 1990 municipal election, which the MCM also won. During his time on council, he served as a backbench supporter of Jean Doré's administration. He did not seek re-election in 1994.

In 1991, Charest was one of twelve MCM councillors to align with the group Mouvement Québec, which called for a referendum on Quebec sovereignty.[4]

Charest sought to return to council in a 2006 by-election in Marie-Victorin, running as a Vision Montreal candidate. He finished third against Carle Bernier-Genest of the Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU).[5]

Electoral record
Montreal municipal by-election results, 24 September 2006: Councillor, Marie-Victorin
1990 Montreal municipal election results: Councillor, Marie-Victorin
1986 Montreal municipal election results: Councillor, Marie-Victorin
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References
  1. Robert Winters, "Who is who in the new MCM administration; MCM backbenchers will demand more say in decision-making than Drapeau-era councillors," Montreal Gazette, 15 November 1986, A4.
  2. Ingrid Peritz, "City pays for Civic Party boost," Montreal Gazette, 11 October 1986, A3.
  3. Robert Winters, "Who is who in the new MCM administration; MCM backbenchers will demand more say in decision-making than Drapeau-era councillors," Montreal Gazette, 15 November 1986, A4.
  4. "12 MCM councillors back sovereignty group," Montreal Gazette, 20 June 1991, A3.
  5. Max Harrold, "East-end voters switch allegiance: Mayor's party candidate wins district," Montreal Gazette, 25 September 2006, A6.
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