1-vote win shows every vote counts, Côte Saint-Luc mayor-elect says

David Tordjman says he’s eager to get to work as the new mayor of Côte Saint-Luc, Que., and he’s confident the requested recount — he won by a single vote — will end in his favour. 

Tordjman received 4,196 votes to longtime incumbent Mitchell Brownstein's 4,195, according to Élections Québec.

“The population spoke out. They came out, they voted. And you know, the one vote just shows people how important that one single vote is,” said Tordjman, Côte Saint-Luc’s mayor-elect. 

“It's a tremendous feeling. It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the last couple of days, but this feeling is amazing and I’m very proud.”

Tordjman said the recount process is part of democracy, but it’s clear “people wanted change.”

Brownstein’s campaign manager said in a statement they would be requesting a recount and declined to comment further, saying they’ll wait for the request to be heard.

Brownstein, a lawyer, was first elected to city council in 1990 and became mayor in 2016. Tordjman served as a city councillor from 2017 to 2021 before losing his bid for re-election that year.

Côte Saint-Luc resident Florence Knafo said she thinks Tordjman deserves to win, adding he has good ideas.

"And we need new blood," she said. "It’s not that the old mayor is not good, but we need someone with new ideas and he’s a very capable man.”

Samuel Ezerzer also said Côte Saint-Luc needs a change.

“I am happy for Côte Saint-Luc,” said Ezerzer. “There’s going to be a lot of good changes.”

Resident Morris Stelcner agrees there should be a recount.

“Winning by one vote is odd,” he said. “I was sure Mitchell was going to win. I was shocked.”

Rae Gropper agrees. She said, “one vote isn’t sufficient to determine anything.”