East Ferris council chooses new mayor to replace Pauline Rochefort

With a vacancy left in East Ferris after the former mayor was elected MP last month, town council has voted in a new person.

A northern Ontario town has elected a new mayor after the woman who previously held the position was elected as a Member of Parliament.

Pauline Rochefort resigned from her position as the mayor of East Ferris after winning the Nipissing-Timiskaming seat in the April 28 federal election.

In a 2-1 council vote on Tuesday, Municipal Coun. Richard (Rick) Champagne was elected to take over the position for the remainder of the term.

Champagne defeated fellow Coun. Steve Trahan.

Long-time councillor Terry Kelly provided the deciding vote in Champagne’s favour, while Deputy Mayor Lauren Rooyakkers abstained.

Champagne will be sworn in at the May 27 council meeting.

Before the vote

Prior to the vote, both candidates addressed council for five minutes and fielded questions from Rooyakkers and Kelly.

Rooyakkers challenged Trahan on his past conduct during meetings, citing instances where she felt dismissed.

“In council, there have been times where I have been speaking and you have interrupted me, you have dismissed me and made me speak last while holding the floor for other council members,” she said.

“What steps will you take to ensure the code of conduct is upheld for council members and staff to ensure all voices are being heard?”

Trahan responded that he believed all voices were heard and noted Rooyakkers had rarely reached out to him privately.

“In two-and-a-half years, you’ve reached out to me once,” he said.

When Rooyakkers pressed further, Trahan interrupted to question whether she was exceeding her allotted questions, prompting her to retort, “See, this is an example of disrespect. There it is.”

Trahan later apologized for the remark.

Rooyakkers also questioned Champagne about bypassing council input after he visited garbage pickup sites without prior discussion at a public works meeting.

Champagne explained he had been contacted by staff and updated Rooyakkers afterward.

In his remarks before the vote, Champagne emphasized unity.

“No matter if it’s 2-1 or 3-1, whatever the final (vote) is, it’s a council decision and it’s done,” he said.

The next municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026.