By Nick Fonda
Local Journalism Initiative
Richmond’s political landscape will change noticeably next November and part of that change will include a new mayor—possibly a very young one. Bertrand Ménard, who currently holds the post, has announced that he will not seek another term, and to date the only person who has stepped forward to indicate his interest in the position is 33-year-old Kevin Stoddard.
Since the end of September 2024, when he beat five other candidates to win a municipal byelection, Kevin Stoddard has been representing Richmond’s District 5 at town council meetings.
“I’ve enjoyed sitting on council,” he says, even as he acknowledges the work comes with some challenges.
“The most difficult thing we had to deal with in the time I’ve been there was adapting our mill rate to the new property evaluations,” he says. “Every three years, all municipalities in Quebec have certified appraisers update property values. Because of the big jump in real estate prices, we had to carefully re-examine property taxes. The appraisal on a house might have risen by 50 per cent, but it wasn’t realistic to expect homeowners to pay 50 per cent more on their municipal tax bill. It took a lot of group work to maintain property taxes at a manageable level.”
The typical homeowner in Richmond pays about $3,000 per year in property taxes. In 2025, the Town spread the tax bill over six equal payments, a change from four equal payments, as it had previously done.
“I’m young in that I’m under 40, but I feel comfortable running for mayor,” he says. “I’ve always been interested in municipal politics, and I’ve lived in Richmond just about my entire life. I like interacting with people. I feel I’d be up to the job. Bertrand Ménard has taken me under his wing recently and he’s been very encouraging and supportive of my candidacy.”
Should he become mayor, Kevin Stoddard would work towards making positive changes.
“I’d like to see Richmond become a more dynamic community,” he says. “One thing I’d like is to bring back the tennis courts, which would double as pickleball courts. Right now, people are playing pickleball in the Community Center, hardly the ideal place.”
“I’d like to see our Main Street become more attractive,” he continues. “Major changes are already being planned. It is possible that we’ll erect a new Town Hall on Main Street, at the foot of Carpenter. We’ve already started experimenting with the seasonal installation of small oases of vegetation on the street to provide some natural cooling. It might also be possible, at least along part of Main Street, to remove the overhead wires and cables and run them all underground.”
Kevin admits that, like all municipalities, Richmond faces budgetary constraints.
“Towns and cities have limited access to funds,” he says. “We raise money through municipal taxes. We can apply for grants offered by the provincial and federal governments. Finally, we can borrow money from financial institutions at rates that are generally lower than those offered to individuals. At the present time, Richmond has only a few outstanding loans to finish paying.”
While municipalities have few sources of revenue, they have a multitude of demands to meet, not all of which are immediately obvious.
“One problem Richmond will have to tackle is the construction of a new fire hall,” says Kevin, a ten-year veteran of the Town’s volunteer fire department. “Currently, the fire department is using part of the municipal garage located in the industrial park—which was recently named in honour of Marc-André Martel who served as Richmond’s mayor for over three decades. While the fire department is making do with the space it has, the space is neither adequate nor up to code. As well, the municipal garage would like to reclaim its space to better store and maintain its own equipment. We will have to find both a suitable place for a new fire hall—not easy given that the Town has relatively few empty lots that would be suitable for a fire hall—and then the funding to build it.”
Lack of space is also an imminent problem for Richmond’s town council. The Town Hall is currently housing both the Town’s administrative offices and the MRC headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec. The provincial police force has indicated that it requires additional space and it will be taking over the large room that has been serving as the council chambers. In the near future, the town council will start holding its public meetings in the Community Center.
“I’m glad that the Sûreté du Québec continues to be headquartered in Richmond,” Kevin adds. “In 2017, the MRC du Val-Saint-François voted in favour of a resolution to move the SQ headquarters to Windsor’s new industrial park. However, the move would require constructing a new building, a much more expensive proposition than making changes to the building here. From a logistical perspective, the SQ is much better able to serve the MRC from its present location. Richmond offers the SQ (and everyone else) two bridges to cross the St. Francis River. Windsor has a single bridge. If that bridge has to be closed because of repairs, flooding, or an accident, crossing the river entails a detour via Richmond or Brompton. For the SQ responding to a call, that detour would add ten minutes or more to its response time. Despite the MRC’s resolution, I think the best place for the SQ to be headquartered is here in Richmond.”
Even though a recent request for a zoning change on Thomas Street wasn’t in Kevin’s district, he was nonetheless approached by several residents opposed to the change.
“Since I’m on the town council, I make myself available to any citizen who has concerns,” he says. “The residents on Thomas Street were understandably worried. Richmond needs development, and the site on Thomas Street is attractive, but it’s also important to respect the people who already live there. A reasonable number of single-family houses could be constructed on the site, but the town’s infrastructure wouldn’t be able to accommodate the large housing development that was being considered.”
“I see Richmond as a town for families,” Kevin Stoddard says. “It’s a safe place and a welcoming place.”
He continues, “I’ve been told by some people that my age is a point in my favour but I’ve also been told by others that it’s a point against me. From my perspective, age is not particularly relevant. Age has nothing to do with integrity, drive, and vision—qualities that I feel qualify me to run for mayor.”
Those with a historical bent will note that Marc-André Martel was first elected mayor in 1986, when he was 40 years old. He handily won a three-way race and was returned by acclamation in successive elections until his retirement 31 years later. When Bertrand Ménard was elected in 2017, he also won a three-way race and was returned four years later by acclamation. With more than four months before November’s municipal elections, there is still time for other candidates to throw their hats into the ring.
On June 9, 15 people attended an information meeting held in Richmond to explain the ins and outs of town council and municipal elections. In addition to the mayor, at least four councillors—Guy Boutin, Charles Malette, Gerard Tremblay, and Kevin Stoddard—will not be seeking re-election.
To date, only Kevin Stoddard has announced his candidacy for mayor. If elected, he will have four new faces joining him around the council table.
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