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WATCH: Meet the by-election candidates...

WATCH: Meet the by-election candidates...

Wednesday 06 February 2019

WATCH: Meet the by-election candidates...

Wednesday 06 February 2019


It's said you can't really get a feel for someone without seeing them in person - perhaps this is even more true for political candidates. So if you can't get down to the first St. Helier by-election hustings tonight, Express has the next best thing.

Each candidate has featured in a Vote.je video to share with potential voters who they are, what they're all about, and why they want a coveted seat in the States Assembly.

Hailing from a range of backgrounds, the wannabe representatives for St. Helier 3/4 are certainly a diverse bunch, as you can find out for yourself by watching and reading below...

Francesca Ahier

30-year-old Francesca Ahier said says she would be "honoured" to represent the area that she has lived in for "most" of her life.

She describes her priority areas as sorting out the future hospital, increased respite care for disabled people and their families, giving those with limited mobility an easier way to vote through online voting, pay increases for nurses, removing GST from food "once and for all", and ensuring there are "no more secret deals" like States CEO Charlie Parker's contract.

John Baker

Jersey Action Group campaigner Mr Baker says he was born and has worked in St. Helier all his life, including in an honorary capacity for the Parish for 25 years.

Among his priorities are seeing more done to protect the island's natural environment, a sustainable population policy, building the Future Hospital at Westmount, rethinking the tax system, and addressing neglected States properties, such as Fort Regent.

Guy De Faye

Former journalist Guy de Faye says that his experience has allowed him to "seek out the truth and cut through the spin".

He says Jersey deserves a new hospital with facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, and space for local radiology treatment. The previous election candidate also wants to see better population control, arguing that growth has forced up the price of accommodation.

Lyndsay Feltham

Reform Jersey's candidate, Lyndsay Feltham, is a civil servant who says she wants to "tackle the issues that will make day-to-day life easier for families".

Explaining that there are "far too many people living below the poverty line", Mrs Feltham says her areas of focus would be more affordable housing, improving provisions for parental leave, ensuring that schools are well-funded and that quality childcare is available, increasing the minimum wage and supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Inna Gardiner

Inna Gardiner, who has lived in Jersey for 10 years, has a background in social work and has worked for the past two decades as a management consultant, says she has thrown herself into parish life, having founded a local coffee morning club for seniors and young parents and joined the First Tower Residents' Association.

The key issues she would like to address are home ownership for young families, enhancing St. Helier's green areas, 'stealth taxes', ensuring wages aren't hit by inflation and enhancing social inclusion.

Geraint Jennings

Geraint Jennings is a long-standing servant of the Parish as its Procureur du Bien Public, as well as a keen promoter of Jerriais.

Mr Jennings wants urban air quality to be tackled and electric vehicles promoted, an adapted tax system and policies that favour growing local businesses, an elected body to govern the parish, safe streets and routes to schools, ensuring Jersey has a global outlook, and ensuring heritage and the arts aren't overlooked in education.

Nick Le Cornu

Former Deputy and qualified lawyer Nick Le Cornu says he wants to continue challenging "the establishment" and will be seeking a public investigation into the recent election expenses form debacle.

Mr Le Cornu says that his other priority would be solving the housing shortage on the island, which he says has been "consistently hidden". While he says he cannot "solve the housing problem alone", he pledged to residents to "fight" on their behalf on matters including housing, employment, Social Security, health, education, and the justice system.

Anthony Lewis

50-year-old former journalist Anthony Lewis's life was shaken when he had a stroke ten years ago, but he says it has given him an important experience of what it is like to be disabled in the island.

The former Senatorial candidate says he stands against overdevelopment of the parish and for equality in society, education and training opportunities for all young people, more affordable housing for "struggling" young families, sustainable population controls, taking GST off food, more cycle paths, and a new hospital at Overdale.

Andrea Mallet

Andrea Mallett (42), who has lived in the parish for over 30 years, studied at Hautlieu and Highlands and went on to work in the legal and finance industries, as well as running an event management business, helping charities with fundraising projects.

The parishioner wants an "uncomplicated" pathway of healthcare, recognition of those struggling through a "fairer taxation system", an immigration policy that can "work for all of us", more support for Highlands and bringing university qualifications to Jersey and increasing affordable housing without hurting the natural environment.

Gordon Troy

Former Senatorial and businessman Gordon Troy says he has owned businesses in most sectors of the local economy.

His key aims are: getting fast planning approval for a new hospital, developing a population policy, removing GST from food, controlling rents, increasing pension payments, ending public sector pay austerity, cutting unnecessary spending from States capital projects, equal pay, helping young people achieve home ownership, improving road safety and creating a help centre to assist EU citizens with applying for settled status amid Brexit.

... And for those who still have unanswered questions about each candidate, there's a hustings being held at First Tower School at 19:00 tonight (6 February), which will be recorded and shared on the Vote.je website tomorrow.

Deputy Greffier Lisa Hart said: "This will allow everyone to watch one of the hustings and find out more about the candidates' views, even if they are unable to go along in person to the meetings."

It is also hoped that bringing the hustings into islanders' homes will help increase interest and engagement in the by-election, as turnout for such elections is not usually very high.

Islanders living in St. Helier District 3/4 and aged over 16 are being encouraged to register to vote, which they can do by clicking here. The election will take place on 27 February.

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