Nine names in the hat for £46k States seats

Tuesday 04 February 2014

Town voters have plenty to choose from in next month’s 'bankruptcy by-election' after nine candidates put themselves forward for the two vacant seats.

With just months to go until the general election in October, the successful candidates won’t have too long to get much done. But they can put themselves in pole position to win a full term in October and a States seat worth more than £46,000 per year.

The elections will take place on 5 March in the St Helier No 1 district (which covers the east of town and Havre des Pas) and the St Helier No 2 district (which covers most of the middle of town).

At the Town Hall nomination meeting, the candidates had to put themselves forward and submit a nomination paper signed by ten district residents.

In St Helier No 1 district, the following were nominated: former Emeraude managing director Gordon Forrest; former Deputy Paul Le Claire; lawyer and campaigner Nick Le Cornu; IT specialist Maureen Morgan; and Fort Regent campaigner Roy Travert.

In St Helier No 2 district, the following were nominated: Centenier Paul Huelin, DJ Bernie Manning; reform campaigner Sam Mezec and Ian Philpott.

The seats were vacated when Shona and Trevor Pitman were kicked out of the States for being declared bankrupt. They were left saddled with huge legal bills when they took on the JEP in a defamation suit over a campaign, and could not cover their debts.

The by-elections are likely to be tight races. Turnout rates in town are low, and by-elections tend not to encourage many voters out to the ballot boxes.