First-time standing candidate Barry Harris echoed Deputy Peter Roffey’s concerns that the new system of voting would be difficult for independent candidates who were not affiliated to a party.
Mr Harris said those standing independently can spend up to £6,000 on their campaign as well as canvassing, but believed it was present deputies who were having ‘all the media attention’ so questioned how ‘the little man is supposed to be heard’.
Art Allen O’Leary also believed sitting deputies started the election race with an advantage over new candidates.
While parties have been able to announce their formation with coverage from the media, he believed the independent candidates remained ‘locked up out of sight’, unable to show off their offerings.
‘I for one, have spent many days on the mobile digits asking the election committee if I am able to do this, that or the other, prior to registration and either get referred to the election booklet (which in my opinion falls short on clarity), or get advised that they will look into my query and get back to me,’ he said.
‘These considerate and patient servants must now be getting rather frustrated with my deluge of questions, but quite frankly us new independent candidates are anxious to get on the grid and start our political engines as time to complete our laps are restricted.’
He said that while all is fair in love and war, it seemed not to be for local elections.
Another hopeful candidate, Richard Skipper, is under no illusions that the election campaign will be a real battle.
‘I want to be a deputy who represents the community, which is why being an independent candidate is my aim,’ he said.
‘My personal campaign will start with planned parochial visits to community centres, residential homes, shopping centres, coffee shops, public houses and community hustings, although social media will feature hugely as well.’
Mr Skipper was also mindful that, if he is successful in being elected, having allies in the chambers will be necessary, particularly as he has his eye on at least one committee position in the house.
Hustings for independent candidates to 'level the playing field'
SOME hustings for totally independent candidates in the election will take place across the island to ‘level the playing field’ against parties.
Current deputy Peter Roffey recognised it would be more difficult for first-time candidates to raise their own profiles without being affiliated to a party.
‘It’s going to be even more difficult if they are not known in other aspects of the community,’ he said.
‘If there is an able but not widely known person, I do think this new [island-wide voting] system is going to be more of a problem for them, particularly if there’s going to be a lot of candidates.’
To combat this and, in his words, to level the playing field, Deputy Roffey has collated a group of 20 genuinely independent candidates who will hold a total of eight hustings in September, ranging from the north of the island, to the south, out west and in a central location.
The group of 20 is made up of eight sitting deputies, two former deputies and 10 first-time standers who each have the option to sit at four hustings.
Although the dates are still being finalised, Deputy Roffey said in terms of spending, it will likely be only £100 per candidate for their four hustings.
‘The cost of hiring out a hall is not a great expense, and with the cost of some advertising about the events, the hustings will be a great way to raise your profile at a relatively low cost,’ he said.
‘The base of it is though, independent candidates will have to be inventive in how they profile themselves, making good use of things like social media.’
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