Senatorial by-election could lead to yet another by-election!

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Voters in St Helier’s No 2 electoral district could find themselves going to the polls twice in the space of around three months.

That’s because one of their deputies has decided he’s going to stand for senator.

Should Reform party candidate Deputy Sam Mezec be successful in September’s by-election his seat will fall vacant and the Royal Court will be forced to call another by-election. That’s likely to be in October or November.

Under the rules governing elections if Deputy Mezec isn’t elected he’ll still keep his job as a deputy, and there’ll be no need for an election.

Speaking after his selection, Deputy Mézec said, “this by-election presents the public with a perfect opportunity to cast a verdict on the performance of the Council of Ministers and send a strong message that they should change direction. They have no mandate to be cutting support for pensioners and the disabled, as well as seeking to raise taxes on low and middle earners. I will be standing on a platform to oppose these plans and instead support moves to defend our services and move towards progressive taxation.”

Nomination meeting for the by-election is being held at the Town Hall at 19:30 on Tuesday 9th August. Voters will have until noon on Monday 8th August to ensure that they are on the main Electoral Register and up to noon on Wednesday 31st August to be on the Supplementary Register. The by-election is on Wednesday 7th September.

The by-election was prompted due to the shock resignation of Senator Zoe Cameron. She quit in frustration at the beginning of the month saying she’d been cold-shouldered by the Council of Ministers.

In addition to Deputy Mezec four other candidates have also declared: former politicians Senator Sarah Ferguson and Deputy Guy de Faye, lawyer and activist Christian May, and singer and entertainer Stevie Ocean.