THE St Brelade No 1 Deputy is the ninth candidate – and the first woman – to announce an intention to stand for this year’s Senatorial election.

Deputy Ferguson (66) has served two terms as a Deputy, and is currently the head of the Public Accounts Committee that reviews whether States departments are providing good value, and the head of the Scrutiny chairman’s committee. Before ministerial government she served on the Health Committee. As head of Public Accounts, Deputy Ferguson has tabled several amendments to the Strategic Plan, Business Plans and Budgets to try and restrict States spending.

She said: ‘These are not easy economic times and we must have the best financial management and control possible when spending taxpayers’ money. This will enable us better to support those who need that support and to maintain the level of prosperity for all Islanders. There will need to be a change in thinking by the States and I would like to take a part in achieving this.’

Deputy Ferguson is a chartered engineer, and has a degree in engineering and an MBA from the Colombia Graduate School of Business in New York. She worked in the finance industry, and as a regulator for the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Deputy Ferguson, who lives in St Brelade, is divorced with one son.

She joins sitting Senators Mike Vibert and Paul Routier, Deputy Peter Troy, former Magistrate Ian Le Marquand, Fairtrade campaigner Daniel Wimberley, therapist Cliff Le Clerq and environmental campaigners Nick Palmer and Chris Perkins in the running for Senator.