A primer on Projet Montral's leadership race

Projet Montralofficially launched itsleadership race on Monday as the partylooks to oust Denis Coderre in next year's municipal election.

The Oppositionparty has been without a permanent leader since its founder, Richard Bergeron, joined Coderre's executive committee in 2014.

Luc Ferrandez, borough mayor forPlateau-Mont-Royal and the party'sinterim leader, has already said he won't seek the top post.

The party held anews conference on Monday to kick off the race.

Only one person, Coun.FranoisLimoges, has officiallyentered the race.

Party officials expect more people to enter before the Oct. 15deadlinefrom both inside and outside the party.

'We will be ready'

The party faces an uphill battle in trying to dethrone Coderre.While thehigh-profile mayor has been hampered by spending controversies of late, opinion polls indicatehe remains popular with voters.

Bergeronfinished third in the 2013 election, after Coderre andupstartMlanie Joly, who went on to become a Liberal MP and Canada's Heritage Minister.

ProjetMontralpresidentNathalieGoulet said the key this timewill be to lay out the party's alternatevision, whichcentresaround sustainable development.

"I think we are the alternative to Denis Coderre," Goulet told Radio-Canada.

"We will be ready to take him on."

ProjetMontralis also hoping to take control ofdistricts like Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Verdun andCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grcewhile retainingits majority in Plateau-Mont-Royal, the Southwestand RosemontLa Petite-Patrie.

Who's running, and who's not

A number of high-profile candidateswhose names were floated includingStevenGuilbeaultofEquiterreand NDP MPAlexandreBoulericehave already said they won't be running for the leadership.

The next municipal election is in November2017.

Here's a breakdown of who will potentially bevying for the position.

FranoisLimoges

FranoisLimoges,councillorforRosemontLaPetite-Patrie,signalledhe would run last May.

Limoges, a former strategic communications consultant with a long history in municipal politics, joinedProjetMontralin 2006 and was first elected in 2009.

ValriePlante

ValriePlante was elected as acouncillorfor theVille-Marieborough in 2013. She has degrees in anthropology and museum studies, and has served as the party's downtown and tourism critic. She is considering running for the leadership.

GuillaumeLavoie

GuillaumeLavoie, also acouncillorinRosemontLaPetite-Patrie, is thought to be a solid candidate for the leadership. But he hasn't said whether he will run.