New Vale deputy wins poll with big majority

GRAHAM GUILLE was voted in as Vale's new deputy yesterday. A leading light in the Status Quo Group, which has campaigned for island-wide elections, he received 44% of the 973 votes cast in the by-election. He beat Richard Brache, Peter Falla and John McQuaigue. Mr Guille replaces Rodney Collenette, who has withdrawn from the States because of ill health. He will serve only a nine-month term of office until the general election next April. After his victory was announced, Mr Guille thanked his wife, Jeanette, and said he had been successful because he was already well known in the parish. 'I am very sorry that Rodney has stood down and feel very proud to be able to carry on his good work,' said Mr Guille. Although with almost half the votes it could have been called a landslide for Mr Guille, he did not feel that the gap between candidates had been as big as this indicated. In his manifesto Mr Guille said there were urgent issues that needed looking at, including public spending and Guernsey's divided society. 'States spending is not sustainable and we will end up like Jersey if we are not careful,' he said. 'The government needs to be reminded from time to time that it is not the big decision but also the small ones that count.' Before Senior Constable Jeff Kitts announced the result at around 8.45pm, the candidates, family members and friends were gathered outside the Vale Douzaine Room. All four said afterwards that standing had been a good learning experience for them and pledged to seek election again next April. Mr McQuaigue, who said he would contest a seat in St Martin's, said the whole election process had been one of highs and lows. 'Everybody I met on the doorstep was disenchanted about the States, and my vote showed that people came out and gave me a chance to change it,' he said. 'The Vale has got a good candidate who will do them proud.' Mr Guille added that he would be reading this month's Billet with great interest to prepare himself for his first States sitting. Vale Votes Just 973 of the 4,665, or about 20%, of those eligible to vote did so. The votes cast were: Graham Guille 420 Richard Brache 252 John McQuaigue 249 Peter Falla 38 There were 14 spoilt papers