This elected official from Vendée was named knight of the Legion of Honor

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In her mayor's office, in Perrier (Vendée), she has two and a half drawers of notebooks filled with notes. “I take note of every appointment I have! » she smiled. Years of mandate, serving the community are recorded in his notebooks.

Rosiane Godefroy has been elected to Perrier since 1995, town of 2000 inhabitants in the heart of the Marais Breton. She will soon receive the highest French national distinction, the Legion of Honor.

Originally from Sarthe

She was promoted to the rank of knight for “49 years of service”, the announcement appeared in the Official Journal on July 9. When she found out, she was “very moved”. She had already received the National Medal of the Order of Merit in 2012. Married, she is the mother of two children, and grandmother of four grandchildren.

Rosiane Godefroy was born in Vaas, in Sarthe, to a family that owned a hotel-restaurant in the heart of the town. His father was an ambulance driver, and involved in his town as a municipal councilor. His mother was notably responsible for sounding the fire siren.

The resumption of the family business

His journey is closely linked to his family history, since very young, she had to take back the reins of the family business. “I wanted to study medicine. I thought I would do humanitarian work. Finally, I studied medical analysis, then I took over the hotel-restaurant,” she summarizes.

Indeed, his father having fallen ill, it was necessary to ensure continuity.

“People came back year after year”

She was only 20 years old when she took over the family business with her husband. His two brothers are cooks in Sarthe. And his parents also own an establishment in Perrier.

They decided to invest in Vendée, because this department attracts tourists. “Two affairs for three couples, it was not possible. We decided to acquire an establishment in Megève,” she emphasizes. Indeed, she and her husband discovered this place in the mid-1970s. So, the Godefroy family spent the winter in Megève and the summer season in Vendée, at Le Perrier, to manage the hotel-restaurant.

In our establishments, there has always been a family spirit, people returned from one year to the next

In the 1990s, the couple and their two children concentrated in Vendée and settled in Perrier all year round, in order to to develop the business, the Le Relais innwhich is located on Route de Challans.

As a business manager, she has always tried to “move upmarket and have certifications”. All by distinguishing between his two hats: “If someone came to see me at my hotel for a municipal matter, I would meet them again at the town hall,” she explains.

“The opportunity to get involved in my community”

Michel Couton, mayor of Perrier at the time, is his neighbor. “He asked me if I was interested in the Perrier municipal council. I told myself that this was an opportunity to get involved in the community.” She is elected municipal councilor in March 1995. “I wanted to develop tourism in Perrier. It is a pretty town, which has an interesting natural heritage. »

She then got involved in the tourism commission. “I immediately offered to join the Pont d’Yeu union. » This union, which later became Vendée des Iles, no longer exists today. She chaired it for 19 years. “I have worked a lot on tourism development and the preservation of natural heritage. I am sensitive to the quality and attractiveness of the environment.”

Mayor since 2008

Moreover, this national distinction “gives him energy to continue”, especially since it is proposed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

In 2001, she became first deputy. In 2008, she was elected mayor of Perrier. “Viviane Raballand did not want to run again, she suggested that I lead a team.” She also became first vice-president of the Océan Marais de Monts community of communes, alongside André Ricolleau.

“Know how to show humility”

In a world of predominantly male elected officials, she believes that “you have to speak louder to be listened to. » But specifies thatshe only talks about subjects that she “masters”. To reconcile professional and public life, and above all to invest in her territory, she “hired someone full time” in the hotel-restaurant. But kept one foot in it.

I have always worked at the same time. This is what brings me. You have to know how to show humility.

Throughout her political life, she followed numerous training courses. “I wanted the Breton marsh to be highlighted, I didn’t find it legible enough. »

His main pridethe establishment of Déambulwhich offers numerous activities all summer, including skiff rides. “We had to convince and set up the project. Then convince elected officials. Until now, the canals were experienced more as something undergone, it was not seen as something to be developed. »

“Become aware that it is a fragile environment”

The Breton marshland has 35,000 hectares of Natura 2000 zone and wetlands. Rosiane Godefroy is convinced that preserving the environment and maintaining economic activity are not incompatible.

In October 2022, at the call of the Vendée hunters' federation, a thousand people demonstrated against a proposed natural park in the marsh. Project which is not on the agenda, since it was an interministerial visit. ” In my opinion, this event made many people aware that it was a fragile environment ».

Rosiane Godefroy hopes that a nature reserve could be created “around Daviaud”. She works in conjunction with the Department on this subject. She also works with Jean-Yves Billon and Claude Caudal on water quality in the Bay of Bourgneuf.

A majorette club at 15

Rosiane Godefroy does not yet know if she will run again in 2026. The position of mayor is a “great position. Being in direct proximity with the locals is a real joy. » Rosiane Godefroy started her community involvement very young when she was 15 years old “I started a majorette club! I stayed there until I was 20. »

To protect herself from attacks, which any local elected official may experience, Rosiane Godefroy has always prohibited herself from being on social networks. “I don’t want to!” » she says.

A united team at his side

She also knows she can count on a team, “people who supported me”. And the next generation? “The role of local elected official is not a job, but it brings a lot of benefits. You have to be curious, love people. Young people can start by getting involved in local life. If they have the opportunity to join a municipal council, they should do so, it's interesting. I was also lucky to have my family for support. »

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