Former Deputy Carl Meerveld has told Express that he intends to stand in April’s by-election.
Candidates won’t formally declare until nearer the time, but Mr Meerveld recently told Express that he has three reasons for wanting to get back into the States.
“I am motivated to stand primarily for three reasons; the restructuring of the Civil Service, which is desperately needed, the wind farm project, and continuing the fight to prevent the introduction of GST for all the reasons I have given,” he explained.
Mr Meerveld was a fierce opponent against the introduction of a goods and services tax during his time in government, between 2016 and 2025.
He was also involved in a recent anti-GST panel event at Les Cotils, alongside current politicians who are against the introduction of the tax.
Mr Meerveld also worked on a wind farm project during his time in the States – notably pushing for investment in investigating the renewable energy source saying it represents “a huge opportunity for Guernsey”.
He is the first candidate to declare, after the States agreed to hold a by-election on 29 April to fill the seat left vacant following the conviction of Jonathan Le Tocq.
It was also agreed by a majority that the electoral roll will open in March before closing on 25 April. Anyone who was already on the electoral roll for the 2025 general election will not have to register again.
Applications for postal votes will close on 10 April.
The regulated period for candidates will start on 2 March and end on 29 April.
Campaign group Women in Public Life has started work to encourage women to stand for the vacant seat too.
Mr Meerveld came 42nd in the 2025 island-wide election with 5,225 votes, just 233 votes behind Deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel who was elected in 38th place.
The candidates in 39th and 40th place – former deputies Peter Ferbrache and David Nussbaumer – have both previously declared that they would not stand again.
Adrian Dilcock, who came 41st, remains politically active as the Senior Constable of St Sampson’s.
2025 election candidate Susie Gallienne, who came 43rd, is now a Jurat so ineligible to stand in the by-election.
The remaining unsuccessful candidates included a number of former politicians, and there were two members of the Forward Guernsey party.
Like last year, independent candidates will be able to spend up to £3,000 on their campaign in this April’s by-election.
Candidates representing political parties will also have an expenditure limit of £3,000 but they will have the option of transferring up to half of that allowance to their party.