PQ hopes to hold Richelieu in Monday by-election

Former journalist Sylvain Rochon hopes to hold the Richelieu riding for the Parti Quebecois, where PQ MNA Elaine Zakaib quit last September. (Images: PQ handout, CTV Montreal)

Voters in the riding of Richelieu, Quebec – downriver from Montreal in the area around Sorel - are doing something rare: they’re picking a new MNA.

The by-election was made necessary after PQ MNA Elaine Zakaib, voted in in 2012, quit to lead the Jacob clothing company last September.

Her predecessor, PQ MNA Sylvain Simard held the riding for 18 years while Liberal Alberta Khelfa represented Richelieu for nine years before him.

Zakaib bucked the Liberal landslide of 2014, taking the riding with 39 percent of the vote over 27 for the CAQ candidate.

Former journalist Sylvain Rochon is considered the frontrunner Monday, as the PQ is expected to hold the riding, although CAQ leader Francois Legault campaigned in the riding for his party’s candidate, entrepreneur Jean-Bernard Emond.

Benoit Theroux, who works in insurance, will represent the Liberals while Professor Marie-Eve Mathieu will run for the Quebec Solidaire Party and Sol Zanetti will run for the Option National. Three others are also running.