Macri claims LaSalle mayorship after 40-vote upset

Michael Macri defeated incumbent Crystal Meloche by 40 votes to become the new mayor of LaSalle.

The margin of victory was one of the narrowest in recent municipal history. Macri secured 5,051 votes, while Meloche received 5,016. Shaun Dass finished third with 3,197 votes. The result ends Meloche’s tenure as the town’s first female mayor.

Macri attributed his win to a desire for balanced leadership. He stated that voters sought continuity alongside fresh direction. “I think that you know the positive message, the vision for LaSalle, I think that made the difference,” Macri said. He noted the 40-vote gap indicated a search for stability mixed with change.

Affordability was a central theme of the campaign. Macri promised to flatten taxes for the 2027 fiscal year. He plans to review every line item in the budget thereafter. His administration will restructure to create a dedicated economic development team. “Look at every capital expenditure and understand: is it a want or a need? We’ve got to focus on the needs,” Macri said.

Meloche accepted the narrow loss with resignation. She described the outcome as disappointing but necessary. “I’m a firm believer of things happen for a reason and so I’m OK,” she said. Meloche cited widespread misinformation and negativity during the campaign as influencing factors. She noted that concerns about spending played a role in the decision.

In her parting remarks, Meloche advised her successor to prioritize the entire population. She reminded the new council that every decision affects the town’s 37,000 residents. “The job is to move the town forward, right? And so every decision means 37,000 people are affected by it,” Meloche said.

The broader council composition also shifted. Incumbent Michael Akpata won re-election as deputy mayor with 6,231 votes. Tory McKay placed second with 4,385 votes, and Simon Jacques third with 1,949. Five new councillors joined the body: Mike Seguin (6,090), Jeff Renaud (5,894), Ivana White (5,893), Brad Krewench (5,014), and Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo (4,778). Certified results are scheduled for release on Tuesday.