Depoorter was very well known in Avelgem, he was in politics for 30 years. When he first emerged in 1964, he became an alderman in a coalition with the then liberal mayor André Wymeersch. During the elections in 1970, Valère had to settle for a role in the opposition, but in 1976 he served as first alderman under leader Roger Tack for the first 3 years, after which Valère became mayor in 1980. He held this office until 1994.
“Valère Depoorter was loved by everyone because he governed his municipality as a true ‘citizen father’ without making any distinction between its residents,” reads a statement from the municipality.