Election candidates have been warned not to use parish resources as campaign tools after a complaint was made about the Constable of St Saviour.
Kevin Lewis, who is seeking a second term as Constable having previously been a Deputy in St Saviour since 2005, was reported to the Jersey Electoral Authority after using the parish website and mailing list to announce his intention to stand for re-election.
Authority chair Michael Marett-Crosby issued a formal response to the complaint this morning, stressing that a “level playing field” between all candidates was essential during election campaigns.
“That is why the Jersey Electoral Authority will be recommending that the next Privileges and Procedures Committee ensures that all elected Members are issued guidance reminding them that parish and government resources should not be used for electoral purposes ahead of the next election.
“Such guidance is currently issued to ministers and assistant ministers, but we recognise that all sitting Members potentially have an advantage over new candidates and our recommendation will seek to address this.”
Mr Marett-Crosby added: “In the meantime, the Jersey Electoral Authority urges all sitting Members to respect the important principle that parish and government resources should not be used for electoral purposes.”
The election authority discussed the matter with the island’s Information Commissioner, ruling that Mr Lewis’s action did not constitute a data breach, as the recipients of the email were all people opting to subscribe to the parish mailing list.
Being reported to the Jersey Electoral Authority made for a less-than-ideal start to the campaign for Mr Lewis, who is being challenged by David Curtis and Suzanne Webb in the election, which is scheduled for Sunday 7 June.
Ahead of polling day, the three candidates are due to attend a hustings event at St Saviour Parish Hall on Wednesday 20 May.