La Gaude (with a population of 6,900) has been in crisis since the early 1990s, after being supported for 30 years by the development of the IBM research center. The famous concept of a technopole in the countryside declined as the American giant emptied its buildings locally. In the era of globalization and the consolidation of IT development services in India, the Gaude platform no longer attracts.
On the other hand, unable to build an alternative development model to the one created by IBM in 1962, the current municipality has seen nearly 40% of local jobs disappear since 1990, turning the commune into a bedroom community.
To combat this phenomenon and “acknowledging the failure of the current municipality,” Christian Mars has been mobilizing local goodwill for a year through the association “La Gaude en mouvement.” His goal: to offer a new dynamic to the residents of La Gaude through a major economic and environmental project.
Quickly, most local personalities adhered to the program led by someone who for 20 years spearheaded the Nice-Matin editorial team. Christian Mars, aged 47 and father of four, formerly the general secretary of Nice-Matin’s editorial team, is none other than the grandson of Michel Bavastro, the founder of the Nice newspaper. When Nice-Matin was sold to the Hachette group in 1998, he left the company to focus on public action and community development as a territorial administrator, first with the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Regional Council and since 2003 with the Alpes Maritimes General Council.
Alongside Christian Mars, the now established “La Gaude en mouvement” list includes Jean Pierre Audoli, a company manager and former town councilor and deputy for construction in La Gaude, Mady Valentin, project director at La Poste, René Garacci, president of the business leaders’ club in the Carros Le Broc area, Christian Nicouleau, former company director and vice president of the Rugby Club of Nice, and others… It will face the list led by the current mayor who, at 78 and despite a contested record, wishes to seek a fourth term. Undermined by ambiguous positions regarding the CANCA formation or the Malongo affair, the current mayor no longer appears to be in a strong position against a list that is young and forward-looking.
Wishing to gather support beyond political parties, Christian Mars, although not hiding his right-wing leanings, announced that he would run without any political label and solely in the interest of the La Gaude residents through a unity list.
Highlighting his personal skills, those of his list members, and his project, he aims to enter into a genuine local political contract with the residents by committing to a feasible and fundable program. “We will not propose 60 or 100 token projects like some do, but a few major structural achievements compatible with our finances and wealth-creating, along with many cost-free improvements in the town hall’s operations.” Indeed, the municipal budget needs revenue to cope with the significant demographic growth recorded in recent years.
However, very favorable until 2005, the structure of La Gaude’s debt has considerably worsened due to highly questionable projects like the town hall parking. With over 6 million euros in debt and a tax burden that has increased by 50% since 2001, the future municipality has limited maneuverability, especially since Christian Mars has promised not to increase individual taxes.
