Macri wins LaSalle mayoral race by 40 votes

Michael Macri defeated incumbent Crystal Meloche by 40 votes to become the new mayor of LaSalle. Macri received 5,051 votes, while Meloche secured 5,016. Shaun Dass finished third in the race with 3,197 votes. The result marks the end of Meloche's tenure as the city's first female mayor.

Macri told reporters that he believes voters sought a balance between maintaining stability and pursuing a new direction. He noted that the campaign focused heavily on affordability. Macri stated that he plans to flatten taxes for 2027 and then review every line item in the budget. He also intends to create a dedicated economic development team.

"I promise to flatten them at least for 2027, and then let's reevaluate everything line item by line item," Macri said. He added that the council will examine capital expenditures to determine whether each project is a want or a need. "We've got to focus on the needs," he said.

Meloche accepted the narrow defeat with composure. She acknowledged the closeness of the race, initially estimating the gap at roughly 35 votes before confirming the final count. She expressed disappointment but said she was at peace with the outcome. Meloche suggested that misinformation and negativity played a role in shaping voter sentiment during the campaign.

"I'm a firm believer of things happen for a reason and so I'm OK," Meloche said. She advised her successor to remember that every decision affects the entire population of 37,000 residents, not just the small group of constituents who communicate most frequently. "The job is to move the town forward," she said.

The election also produced results for the deputy mayor's office and city council. Incumbent Michael Akpata won re-election as deputy mayor with 6,231 votes. Tory McKay placed second with 4,385 votes, and Simon Jacques received 1,949 votes. The five new councillors are Mike Seguin with 6,090 votes, Jeff Renaud with 5,894, Ivana White with 5,893, Brad Krewench with 5,014, and Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo with 4,778.

The LaSalle election officials are scheduled to release certified results on Tuesday. The new mayor and council will begin their terms following the official certification of the vote counts.