France's President-Elect Hollande Has Fans at Home TULLE, France - François Hollande learned how to be a politician in this small city in the rural south-central region of France known as Corréze. Mr. Hollande chose to return to Tulle, where he served as mayor for seven years, for his last weekend of campaigning for the French presidency, to vote and to await the country's verdict on his candidacy. He delivered his victory speech on Sunday night on the Place de la Cathédrale, paying tribute to a region that "gave me the most." "I owe you everything," Mr. Hollande told the thousands of residents and supporters who gathered here. The people of Tulle returned the favor, giving Mr. Hollande 75.7 percent of the votes cast, according to figures provided by the local mayor, Bernard Combes. In interviews, they spoke of their gratitude for Mr. Hollande's helping to modernize area schools, promoting home care for the elderly and cutting costs in an administrative district that is among France's most debt-ridden. Above all, however, residents said they were attached to the man who has represented Corréze in Parliament for years and is president of the local governing council. "His victory is wonderful news," said Nathalie Blancherie, a 50-year-old electrician who joined the crowd on Sunday. He's a very important man to us. She praised the president-elect not just for doing "a lot for companies, for the region," but for his "humanity" and "friendliness." "He's always out with people, talking with them about their difficulties," she said. No one feels ashamed to talk to Hollande. Not everyone, though, was so enthusiastic. A former local councillor who would not speak for attribution because she was afraid she would damage her reputation said the president-elect was "smart and sociable," but added, "I'm not sure that he's suited for the job." "He didn't do much here," the former councillor said. He never brought any company here. Many people praised Mr. Hollande for his perseverance after arriving here, a region he barely knew, at 26 from Rouen, his northern birthplace, to challenge Jacques Chirac in legislative elections in 1981. Mr. Hollande lost, but returned in 1983 and became a local councilor in Ussel, a nearby city. He was elected to Parliament from Corrèze in 1988, wining 53 percent of the votes. But he lost the seat again in 1993 before winning it back four years later. Mr. Chirac went on to become France's president in 1995. "Hollande knew how important Chirac was here," said Christian Lavent, a taxi driver and the president of a local artisans group. So he walked in Chirac's shoes, by shaking hands and kissing women. Dominique Ceaux, who worked with Mr. Hollande at the governing council, said Tulle "is a modest, fairly poor city, but it reflects the values he cares for." Jean Poumieux, who with his wife owns the Central, an old, elegant brasserie that is a favorite of Mr. Hollande, praised him as a measured man, "who doesn't drink too much wine, and likes to eat a bit of everything." Before losing weight for his campaign, he ate, perhaps, a bit too much of everything. Mr. Hollande has often praised Tulle as a symbol of resistance during the World War II Nazi occupation and referred to the 99 resistance fighters who were hanged here and the 200 local residents who were deported to German concentration camps in June 1944. "I have their names in my mind," he said in a speech near Paris in January. They are my heroes. I will never forget them.