MONTREAL -- Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced his new executive committee Monday, taking a partisan approach by naming members of his own party into most of the top jobs, while snubbing Projet Montreal entirely. As expected, Coderre named Ahuntic-Cartierville councillor Pierre Desrochers as president of the executive committee, assigning him to the finance, major projects, human capital, corporate communications, legal affairs and assessment dossiers. The former oil industry consultant won his council seat by only nine votes. Coalition Montreal leader Marcel Cote has been given an important role as special advisor to the executive committee. Anie Samson and Harout Chitilian, both members of Team Coderre, have been appointed as vice-presidents of the executive committee. Samson, the borough mayor of Villeray-Saint Michel-Parc Extension and former Vision Montreal member was one of the first to join Coderre's team. She will also be responsible for public safety and services for citizens. Ahuntsic-Cartierville councillor and former house speaker Chitilian will take on administrative reform and the Smart City dossiers, as well as information technology. He is a former member of Union Montreal. Long-time executive committee members Alan DeSousa and Marvin Rotrand were not offered positions. When asked why DeSousa was excluded, Coderre alluded to appointing fresh faces to the council. Projet Montreal leader Richard Bergeron reacted to Coderre's snub Monday afternoon, saying it shows Coderre is being very partisan, and that the new mayor did not reach out to his party at all. He also said that despite it being a minroty council, Bergeron said he doesn't plan to be antagonistic toward the mayor despite his party being shut out from the major positions. Other appointments: Copeman and Ménard are the only two executive committe members not on Team Coderre; both are member of Coalition Montreal. Coderre also presented a number of associated consultants: The mayor also announced he will recommend that city council designate Frantz Benjamin as chairman of the board. Benjamin is the first black man to be appointed to the role. His appointment was met with rousing applause.
