Candidates out in force

Wednesday 5th November 2008, 3:00PM GMT.

SIXTY-THREE candidates today began the battle for just 25 seats in the biggest Deputies’ elections in recent history.

The candidates, who were last night formally nominated to stand in the elections, will spend the next 20 days fighting for a three-year term in office.

In St Helier alone, 25 hopefuls, including five of those who failed in the Senatorial elections, will campaign for just ten seats on offer across the three districts. And in St Brelade No 2, eight candidates will fight for just two seats.

The total number of those standing is significantly higher than the 50 who declared in the last round of elections in 2005. In total, candidates will be elected in 13 districts when Islanders go to the polls on 26 November.

The total number of candidates was boosted by a flurry of late entries, including Adrian Walsh for St Helier No 2, Martin Greene in St Martin, Mark Sutton in St Brelade No 1, Glenn George in St Saviour No 2 and Jeremy Strickland and Philip Maguire in St Clement.

Meanwhile, four Deputies are already looking forward to a further three-year term after being re-elected without a contest. Deputy Roy Le Hérissier was returned to the St Saviour No 3 seat, Deputy James Reed was re-elected in St Ouen, Deputy Anne Pryke was returned to her seat in Trinity and Deputy Carolyn Labey was re-elected in Grouville.

• Picture: The St Helier nomination meeting

• Nominations: Click here

1
Sara

November 5, 2008 at 6:12 pm

It is good to see we have a lot of choice, but I will not be voting for anybody who does not live in the district or Parish they are going for. I want a deputy to know what it is going on with hands on experience of my parish before.

That is a minimum request before they will get a vote from me.

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2
Geno

November 6, 2008 at 10:28 am

What a farce. All of those who couldn’t get enough support to gain an Island wide mandate, now shuffle off to the deputies elections to secure their place in the House. Despite failing in an Island wide election, these losers will have the same voting rights and earn the same salary as those who were elected Senator.

Perhaps we should open a market on who gets elected with the least votes. Anyone want to bet it will be below 300 votes in one of the St Helier constituencies.

At least an Island wide election provides a house elected by the Island, whatever you think of it. The parishoners of Trinity, Grouville etc have no say in these elections which provide 4 times as many politicians as the recent Senatorial elections.

The Island political system really is a joke

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3
bella

November 6, 2008 at 11:12 am

it should not be allowed for any candidate to stand for elections in a district they do not live in. a prime example is shona pitman and her husband trever who both live in st.johns there are many examples of this in the forthcoming deputy elections they will lack any personnel touch regarding residents in that particular district what’s wrong with their own parish? this method is scheming. i certainly will not be voting for those with vested interest outside of my district

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4
Kaspar Wimberley

November 10, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Quoting Geno:
“What a farce. All of those who couldn’t get enough support to gain an Island wide mandate, now shuffle off to the deputies elections to secure their place in the House”

“At least an Island wide election provides a house elected by the Island, whatever you think of it”

1. People learn, and what is wrong with a second chance. Some lesser known but very good candidates might also need the senatorials to raise their profile and get their policies out into the open, before campaigning again for the deputies.

2. Funnily enough the candidates in the senatorial campaign who most support island wide elections and urgent electoral reform were the ones who didn’t get in. Maybe you voted for the wrong people!

3. The function of a deputy is different. The candidates may not be elected to the role of a Senator, but be perfect on a more local level.

4. The odds are against a non-establishment candidate (even when the establishment are making so many big mistakes), so it is not surprising that many didn’t make the cut in the senatorial elections. Through the deputies we have a second chance to vote for people who really will make a positive impact in Jersey. A second chance to hope for change.

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