Good night for newcomers in two parish elections
TWO parish elections yesterday returned different sets of results.
A new broom swept through St Peter Port, though that was always likely with six new candidates among seven standing for six seats on the parish douzaine. Among those successful were teenager Charlotte Long and Latvian national Evita Bormane.
In St Martin's voters largely stuck to who they knew, with three current or former parish officials returned.
Both elections were deferred at the 3 November parish meetings.
In Town Ms Long topped the poll with 142 votes, with constable Zoe Lihou, the only sitting douzenier attempting to return, second with 122.
She was closely followed by Anthony Holland, Ms Bormane, Simon De La Mare and Diane Mitchell. Thomas Moore was unsuccessful.
St Martin's returned sitting douzenier Peter Dorey and dean of the douzaine Ben Gregg in the top two positions, followed by former constable Cynthia Cormack.
Newcomer Charlotte Le Tissier came in fourth, ahead of fellow new candidate Andrew Castle, who missed out.
Mr Dorey topped the poll with 179 votes, Mr Castle secured 104.
During the day, St Martin’s constable Jeff Wilkes-Green said that there had been a good amount of voters through the door, with more than 100 people casting their vote in the morning.
‘We’ve definitely had more than we would have had at the parish meeting,’ he said.
Last year the parish had 400 people turn out to vote on the day.
‘It’s been people of varying ages come in, anywhere between 25 years old and 80.’
Deferred elections are not always popular – there was discontent in the summer when Vale parish candidate Mary Lowe sought a deferral in a by-election, but Mr Wilkes-Green supported it.
‘It’s what the parishioners voted for and its more democratic this way.’
St Peter Port also had two vacancies open for the Amherst and Vauvert Infant and Junior School committee, which were secured by Ms Mitchell and Christine Goodlass.
Douzenier Mary McDermott was manning the Beau Sejour polling station, and said there had been a steady stream of voters throughout the day.
The Constables Office in Lefebvre Street was also open.
