The voters: Celeb endorsements

>> The Mirror asks Montreal's well-known names who they're voting for

by KRISTIAN GRAVENOR

Michel Girouard, gossip columnist and CKAC broadcaster: Bourque is a friend of mine. It's easy to criticize a mayor but I don't see Bourque as having done anything bad. The man for me is Bourque.

Anne-Marie Withenshaw, MusiquePlus VJ: I'm not really seeing the kids taking it more seriously than any other municipal election. At first I was pretty anti-merger but if it bails out the city then that's good, and I do like Bourque's eco-vision. Tremblay's physicality freaks me out a bit. It looks like he has those glasses with a fake nose. In terms of voting for the lesser of two evils, I'm on the Bourque side.

Red Storey, hockey legend: There's no doubt about it, if they put it to a vote they wouldn't be able to do (the mergers). Maybe things would be better if Bourque spent more time taking care of our needs rather than running to China every other weekend. I feel one good man leading is better than having a misfit who's flitting from one thing to another. So you could see who I'm voting for. We've got the worst streets in Canada, bar none. I come from a town [Barrie, Ontario] where when I was young they had gravel roads and they ran the graters down them every other day and we had 10 times better roads than we have today.

Robert "Bicycle Bob" Silverman, bike activist: Bourque's talking now about bike paths. It was also in his program the last two elections. He was once head of the bicycle committee. We used to go together and look at bike paths and yet the bike paths are still incomplete. I'm voting for Tremblay because of that. I like Bourque though. He doesn't take a salary. It's nice to have an ex-horticulturist rather than another lawyer, but I sorta represent the bicycling community.

Jake Brown, local boob (spoken word performer who renounces his title because "only the content of what somebody says should be paid attention to, never their office"): Centralization vs. regional autonomy is the issue for this election and I look at it from a historical perspective. Henry VIII tricked local authorities into allegiance through riches--it was the first time since Trajan did it in ancient Rome. When Henry VIII took away regional control of economic matters, the go-getter alderman types who wanted to get ahead had no more incentive. They had dynamism, pride, and collectively that made for a vital state. I'm voting for the Tremblay guys.

Boris St-Maurice, Bloc Pot boss: We considered running candidates for the municipal elections but it fell into disinterest. The megacity is the big issue. Regardless, it won't change anything, so it's a red herring. Yet here in Ville St-Laurent people are heartbroken about the mergers. I'm going to vote for (radio host and prank mayoral candidate) Super Cauchon. He supported us in the past.

Heidi Hollinger, photographer Personally I really like Bourque. I think he's extremely nice. He hosted a photo exhibit in city hall last year I took part in called 10 years in Moscow. I like him personally and I think he does a lot of cool things. However, from what I know about the municipal merger, I don't like it. I think everything is best run on a more local level. But I feel loyal to Bourque and I'll vote for him.

Jean Hinse, psychic I think Bourque's going to win again but not as big as last time. People give the impression that they hate his guts but he hasn't done anything to offend the public. Bourque's a bit of an opportunist, but despite all that he's doing his job pretty well. I'll probably end up voting for Bourque.

DJ McCarthey, comedian Bourque is really scary. I have no opinion on Tremblay but I'll vote for him. Every other major city that has been unified has gone down the tubes and this is where the majority doesn't rule, proving that parliamentary democracy doesn't always work out. Some candidates came to my door but I was already entertaining some Jehovah's Witnesses so I told them to go away.

Raymond Villeneuve, former FLQ Terrorist: For me, Bourque is the lesser catastrophe. Tremblay represents the partitionist movement. He's for de-merging and against it, he contradicts himself and appears to be an agent of the federal Liberals. At least Bourque was with the PQ a long time ago. I'm voting Bourque.

The Great Antonio, actor/strongman: I ate lunch with Bourque four times. He came in here [Dunkin' Donuts] like many other famous people. I knew him before he became mayor. He has more experience. With Tremblay it's hard to say. I have no proof that he'd be better. Last time I voted for Bourque and I will again this time.