# Réal Charest

Réal Charest is a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He served on the Montreal city council from 1986 to 1994 as a member of the Montreal Citizens' Movement (MCM).

## Early life and career

Charest is a life insurance underwriter in private life. He has also served as a caisse populaire administrator, the vice-president of a mental-illness research foundation, and an administrator of a seniors' residence.
He was initially a prominent supporter of Jean Drapeau's Civic Party of Montreal, serving as chief organizer for its candidate in the Marie-Victorin ward for two elections during Drapeau's tenure as mayor. His decision to leave the Civic Party in 1986 and join the MCM came as a surprise to many. Charest has said that Drapeau "didn't say a word for eight to 10 seconds on the phone when I told him," adding, "and that's something, coming from the mayor."

## City councillor

Charest was elected for the Marie-Victorin ward in the 1986 municipal election, in which the MCM won a landslide victory. He was re-elected to a second term in the 1990 municipal election, which the MCM also won. During his time on council, he served as a backbench supporter of Jean Doré's administration. He did not seek re-election in 1994.
In 1991, Charest was one of twelve MCM councillors to align with the group Mouvement Québec, which called for a referendum on Quebec sovereignty.
Charest sought to return to council in a 2006 by-election in Marie-Victorin, running as a Vision Montreal candidate. He finished third against Carle Bernier-Genest of the Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU).

## Electoral record

vteMontreal municipal by-election, 24 September 2006: Councillor, Marie-Victorin :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Montreal Island Citizens Union | Montreal Island Citizens Union | Carle Bernier-Genest | 2,035 | 38.58 |
| Projet Montréal | Projet Montréal | Kettly Beauregard | 1,704 | 32.30 |
| Vision Montreal | Vision Montreal | Réal Charest | 1,220 | 23.13 |
| Independent | Independent | Nicole Thibault | 316 | 5.99 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,275 | 100 |
| Source: Official Results (in French), City of Montreal. |||||
vte1990 Montreal municipal election: Councillor, Marie-Victorin :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Montreal Citizens' Movement | Montreal Citizens' Movement | Réal Charest (incumbent) | 2,877 | 50.08 |
| Civic Party of Montreal | Civic Party of Montreal | Paul L'Abbee | 1,820 | 31.68 |
| Municipal Party | Municipal Party | Diane Phaneuf | 762 | 13.26 |
| Ecology Montreal | Ecology Montreal | Anna Daugulis | 286 | 4.98 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,745 | 100 |
| Source: Election results, 1833-2005 (in French), City of Montreal. |||||
vte1986 Montreal municipal election: Councillor, Marie-Victorin :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Montreal Citizens' Movement | Montreal Citizens' Movement | Réal Charest | 4,524 | 61.10 |
| Civic Party of Montreal | Civic Party of Montreal | François Delorme | 2,880 | 38.90 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,404 | 100 |
| Source: Election results, 1833-2005 (in French), City of Montreal. |||||