Two-way fight for Chief Minister confirmed

Thursday 24 May 2018

There’s to be a two-way fight to be the island’s top politician – but islanders won’t have a say in it, and it won't include the recent Senatorial poll toppers Senators-elect Kristina Moore and Tracey Vallois.

Instead, the current Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, and newly promoted Senator-elect John Le Fondré, are going for the post.

It had been expected that it was going to be a three-way battle, but just hours before the deadline for nominations closed today at 17:00, Senator Lyndon Farnham ruled himself out. He said he’d taken soundings from members and that most were backing the other candidates.

10 members have signed Senator Gorst’s nomination paper: Constable Deidre Mezbourian, Constable Simon Crowcroft, Senator-elect Steve Pallett, Deputy Richard Renouf, Deputy Richard Rondel, Senator-elect Kristina Moore, Deputy Scott Wickenden, Deputy Susie Pinel, Deputy Graham Truscott, and Constable Philip Le Sueur.

15 members have signed Senator-elect John Le Fondré’s paper: Deputy-elect Lindsay Ash, Constable-elect Richard Buchanan, Senator Sarah Ferguson, Deputy-elect Gregory Guida, Deputy-elect Rowland Huelin, Constable-elect Mike Jackson, Deputy David Johnson, Constable-elect John Le Bailly, Constable John Le Maistre, Deputy Kevin Lewis, Constable-elect Karen Stone, Deputy Judy Martin, Constable Chris Taylor, Constable-elect Richard Vibert, and Deputy-elect John Young.

As part of the election process candidates also have to submit an outline of what they hope to achieve and how they'll go about it. In his manifesto Senator Gorst says he'll continue to promote the economy and to steer the island through Brexit, but is refusing to publish a wish list which he claims is almost always impossible to achieve. But, he is committed to providing affordable accommodation, improved health services, and says he'll create a new post - Minister for Consumer Affairs. In his manifesto Senator-elect John Le Fondre says he wants a break with the past. He says the Council of Ministers have often been divisive and have failed to work with scrutiny. He wants more teamwork. He also says he'll appoint Senator-elect Tracey Vallois as Education Minister - although interestingly she hasn't signed his nomination form. And, perhaps rather cryptically, he says the ministers he appoints should 'not necessarily expect the old departments (or functions) that were previously in place".

A Bailiwick Express poll of 1,389 people suggested that John Le Fondré was the leading candidate in the minds of respondents, he secured more than 30% of the vote, with Ian Gorst securing 23%. 

Despite encouragement from some politicians, neither recent Senatorial poll topper Senator-elect Tracey Vallois, or runner-up Senator-elect Kristina Moore, could be talked into adding their names to the list. Senator-elect Vallois would like to head up Education, and in most likelihood is being courted by both politicians going for the top job. Senator-elect Kristina Moore is said to be keen to stay as Home Affairs – a post she’s held for the past four years under the current Chief Minister.

Under States’ rules only members get a say in who’s elected as Chief Minister, that’ll happen in just under two weeks’ time on Monday 4 June. The process will begin with the two candidates drawing lots to decide who should go first. The ‘loser’ has to leave the chamber whilst the other makes a 10-minute speech outlining their policies, and then faces up to an hour of questions from fellow politicians. He’ll then leave the chamber, and it’s the turn of the other candidate. Politicians then vote. The candidate with the most votes is elected.