ROCHESTER - More than four years after he was removed from office following a highly controversial and contentious political trial, former city councilor Chris Rice says he feels somewhat vindicated after Rochester City Councilor John Larochelle on Tuesday acknowledged he had been “influenced” in his vote to remove Rice from office by former Mayor Paul Callaghan, who was an alleged victim of Rice’s actions, but was still allowed to preside over the trial.
During the public comment segment of Tuesday’s City Council workshop, Rice took to the podium and spoke of how Larochelle had recently approached him and apologized for voting for his ouster during the May 12, 2022, trial in council chambers at City Hall.
“You told me Paul (Callaghan) pressured you to vote for my removal,” Rice said looking directly at Larochelle. “Are you willing to repeat those words? If Paul Callaghan did pressure you, then you should say that now before the public.”
Rochester Mayor Chuck Grassie interjected that he had no intention of initiating a probe into any influence peddling that might have gone on, adding that the present City Council is focused on current issues before the council and not on the past.
Grassie then turned the microphone over to Larochelle, who restated for Rice that he apologized for his actions that threw him off the board.
“I wasn’t pressured, but I was influenced,” he said. “if you read the minutes, you can see I was hesitant. I apologize for the vote I took. I didn’t think it would result in the removal of a colleague and friend. I questioned the speed of the process. I will simply say I regret my vote.”
During his comments prior to Larochell’s public apology Rice also said that former city councilors Skip Gilman was “bullied” and Steven Beaudoin “coached” or influenced into voting for Rice’s removal and that the other alleged victim cited in the case, Ashleigh Desrocher, “didn’t want it to go as far as it did.”
Rice argued the proceeding was fundamentally unfair because he had limited time to prepare a defense and because accusers acted as jurors, famously comparing it to a police officer writing a ticket and then sitting on the jury.
The City Council, which needed a two-thirds majority to remove Rice, ultimately voted 9–3 to remove him from office.
On Wednesday Rice told The Rochester Voice he was happy with Larochelle’s apology, especially since Larochelle’s one vote against removal would’ve changed everything.
“I got a sitting councilor to apologize for their vote,” he said. “It’s a relief, but I’d still like to see an investigation of the former mayor, city manager (Blaine Cox) and the city attorney (Terence O’Rourke). When you start adding these people it’s like a criminal conspiracy.”
The Rochester Voice reached out for comment from former Mayor Paul Callaghan, but we have not heard back.
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