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A local motivational speaker running for the role of Constable of St.Mary is withdrawing from the election race.
Mark Baker said that the move was due to “an illness in the family.”
The Royal Court was due to formalise Mark Baker’s application to withdraw this morning.
Mr Baker commented: "Unfortunately, I have had to step down due to unforeseeable personal reasons, I can only say that I am utterly disappointed and feel really bad for the many people who have been urging me to stand for constable over the last 12 months."
He added: "As a business coach, speaker, and author who has worked with CEOS from fortune 500 companies and FTSE 100 companies teaching them advanced communication skills, strategy, and team building as well as how to become resilient during challenging times, I was very excited to become constable and put these skills to work in our parish."My family goes back close to 1,000 years in the parish, and I come from a very long line of people who have served the parish for centuries so I really did see this as my opportunity to honour their great works and contribute to the parish myself, something that would have meant the absolute world to me.
"...All I can really say at the end of the day is that I am truly sorry to my many supporters that I will be unable to follow through on my intentions but that they can count on me standing again for constable and if successful I will be anything but an absent father of the parish."
Video: Mr Baker's manifesto video.
It leaves just two candidates left in the race: current St. Mary Deputy David Johnson and parish magazine editor Mike Fennell.
Constable John Le Bailly, who was first elected in 2018, is stepping down after one term.
He told Express that this was for personal reasons, but was leaving the parish in a better place, including having audited accounts and two new procurers, following a number of resignations.
He praised the work of the Constables, adding “I don’t think everyone understands what a vital job the Constables do. Without them, the island would be in trouble. We also get through more work in a morning of our fortnightly Comité des Connétables’ meetings than the States Assembly does in a week.”
Mr Le Bailly added that thought calls to reduce the number of States Members would be counter-productive as there was a huge amount of Scrutiny and other work that had to be done.
Express contacted Mr Baker for comment but had not received a reply at the time of publication.
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