Election confirmed in St Helier as second candidate announces

Monday 20 January 2014

St Helier Centenier Paul Huelin has announced his intention to stand for Deputy of St Helier No 2 in the forthcoming States by-elections.

The announcement means that there will definitely be an election on 5 March to fill the remaining eight months until the General Election. If elected, Centenier Huelin (57) says he will focus on immigration, policing the Island and drumming up support for the States.

Mr Huelin said we should build on the success of last summer’s two day street party in St Helier which saw  islanders of all nationalities coming together.

He’ll also push for a u-turn on the location of the Police Station, saying he wants to see the Police, Fire and Ambulance services on the Waterfront.

Mr Huelin said: “Green Street is the wrong side of the tunnel and asking for trouble in my opinion. It’s too far east which will cause all sorts of problems. The Waterfront is the most obvious place. It would give total access to any part of the Island. We don’t need more office blocks on the Waterfront.”

Mr Huelin said he’s concerned that after the debacle of the referendum many people are not even going to bother voting this time round.

He said: “There has to be a change in the States, that’s not in dispute. The referendum has to be drawn up by an outside body, not the States.”

Mr Huelin is the great nephew of the late Senator Gwyneth Huelin and works for a local law firm. He is currently serving his second term as a St Helier Centenier.

The St Helier No 2 seat was vacated when Shona Pitman was kicked out of the States earlier this month. She and her husband Trevor, who represented the St Helier No 1 district, were expelled from office when they were declared bankrupt by the Royal Court.

23 year old political campaigner Sam Mezec has already put his name in the hat.

Mr Mezec is a law graduate and the chairman of political campaign group Reform Jersey. If elected, he would be the youngest States Member.