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Tutino was first elected mayor in 2005 after leading the fight to de-merge the town from Montreal.
“In 2000, I went from being a stay-at-home mom, when there was a threat of merger (with Montreal), to a full-time activist,” she said.
“In 2004 when we won the demerger, I was going to go back to that life because I had given up a career for my family. I had been at home for 18 years enjoying the family life. It was the citizens who said, ‘Maria, you promised us, you have to run for one mandate at least’.”
One mandate turned into four.
Tutino was part of the anti-merger, demerger and reconstitution movements. As mayor, she also defended the town’s interests at the Montreal agglomeration level.
Despite the fact the Montreal agglo expenses swallow up more than 60 per cent of the town’s budget, Tutino said Baie-D’Urfé is still better off on its own.
