Deputy Inna Gardiner has been elected as Constable of St Helier after defeating Education Minister Rob Ward in one of the most closely watched contests of the election.
Deputy Gardiner secured 2,740 votes to become the parish’s next Connétable, comfortably ahead of Deputy Ward on 1,960.
Independent candidate David Warr finished third with 1,153 votes, followed by Mark Le Chevalier with 781 and Alvin Aaron with 75.
The result represents another setback for Reform Jersey after party leader and Housing Minister Sam Mézec failed to secure a Senatorial seat earlier in the night.
Deputy Ward’s decision to contest the Constable position had been viewed as an attempt by Reform to strengthen its influence across St Helier.
But, instead, voters backed current St Helier Deputy Inna Gardiner, a previous Education Minister herself and current head of the Public Accounts Committee, the panel responsible for scrutinising the spending of public money.
The result also means curtains for Cooper and Co owner David Warr, who had become a Deputy for St Helier South in the 2022 election, when he stood as part of the Better Way movement.
CANDIDATES:
- Inna Gardiner (current Deputy) – 2,740
- Rob Ward (current Education Minister and Reform Jersey leader) – 1,960
- David Warr (current Deputy) – 1,153
- Mark Le Chevalier – 781
- Alvin Aaron – 75
LISTEN…
Bailiwick Podcasts caught up with Inna Gardiner before the election for the Election Disassembled series…
