Opportunity knocks as 45 hopefuls sign up on first day

First-time candidate Heidi Almonte was at the head of a small queue waiting to submit their papers when the Bailiff’s Office opened at 9am.

She was outside the Royal Court House by 5.45am and was soon joined by sitting deputy Yvonne Burford and a little later by former deputy Marc Laine, who is bidding to return to the States after 13 years away from frontline politics.

‘I am very enthusiastic and can’t wait to get going. I was awake before 2am wondering if it was still too early to come in,’ said Ms Almonte.

‘I have been thinking about standing for a year or so and, once I decided I would, I got stuck into all the meetings and information sessions. When I’m passionate about something, I put my heart and soul into it.’

Canvassing door-to-door plays less of a role in island-wide elections than it used to in district elections, but Deputy Burford said it was still important. She said that she was eager to ‘get out and about across Guernsey’ before the three polling days on 15, 17 and 18 June.

Door-knocking may be harder than ever, however, after candidates learned yesterday that they would not be provided with electoral roll maps in road or house order, as they would previously.

Within an hour of nominations opening, about 25 candidates had turned up, among them Father of the House Deputy John Gollop, who is hoping to extend his 28-year tenure, and six candidates standing for Forward Guernsey, currently the island’s only political party, including its leader Gavin St Pier.

One surprising face outside the Royal Court was Deputy Al Brouard. Although he was always an early riser on day one of nominations, he had announced months ago that he would retire from the Assembly next month.

He had not been tempted to change his mind, but instead was there, on his birthday, supporting Ms Almonte, a friend.

‘I remember that I could have done with a bit of help and advice when I first stood and so this time I’m just trying to assist one of the independent candidates,’ he said.

‘I did suggest that if you’re going to stand you might as well make sure you get here nice and early.’

Candidates so far

• Heidi Almonte – new candidate

Proposed by Al Brouard, seconded by Neil Martin

• Yvonne Burford – deputy 2012-16 and since 2020

Proposed by Sir de Vic Carey, seconded by Michelle Le Clerc

• Marc Laine – former deputy, 1997-2000 and 2008-12

Proposed by Peter Mills, seconded by Claudia Crispini

• Adrian Dilcock – senior constable of St Sampson's, previous candidate

Proposed by Paul Le Pelley, seconded by Michelle Le Clerc

• Adrian Gabriel – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Wayne Bulpitt, seconded by Heidi Soulsby

• Simon Vermeulen – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Peter Girard, seconded by Nick Guillemette

• Stuart Jehan – Forward Guernsey candidate; first-timer

Proposed by Marion Power, seconded by Kyra Jehan

• John Gollop – deputy since 1997; member, Policy & Resources

Proposed by Andrew Offen, seconded by Roy Angliss

• Tom Rylatt – Forward Guernsey candidate; first-timer

Proposed by Christopher Atkinson, seconded by Chloe Price

• Sofi Noakes – Forward Guernsey candidate; first-timer

Proposed by Andrew Ison, seconded by Ellenor Jones

• Rhona Humphreys – Forward Guernsey candidate; first-timer

Proposed by Euan Melrose, seconded by David Gilmour

• Dicky Parmar –Forward Guernsey candidate; first-timer

Proposed by Julie-Anne Headington, seconded by Carl Meerveld

• Gavin St Pier – Forward Guernsey candidate; deputy since 2012

Proposed by Pierre Blampied, seconded by Diane de Garis

• David De Lisle – deputy since 2004

Proposed by Richard Heaume, seconded by Paul Paint

• Diane Mitchell – senior constable of St Peter Port; former candidate

Proposed by Barry Cash, seconded by Katina Elisabeth Jones

• Rob Prow – deputy since 2016

Proposed by Peter Harwood, seconded by Robin Yeaman

• Kerensa Gardner – new candidate

Proposed by Elise Herve, seconded by Mark Allison

• Jayne Ozanne – new candidate

Proposed by Andrew Ozanne, seconded by Elaine Gray

• David Goy – new candidate

Proposed by Anya Goy, seconded by Yasmin Atkinson

• Susie Gallienne – new candidate

Proposed by Larry Malcic, seconded by Sarah Willis

• Sally Rochester – new candidate

Proposed by Glen Tonks, seconded by Jo Cottell

• Lee Van Katwyk – former candidate

Proposed by Tracey Trott, seconded by Grant Le Tissier

• Haley Camp – new candidate

Proposed by Annette Alexander, seconded by Christopher Jehan

• Bruno Kay-Mouat – new candidate

Proposed by Robert Dorey, seconded by Russell Clark

• Sally Gilman – new candidate

Proposed by Jane Wratten, seconded by Kerry Fletcher

• George Oswald – non-voting member, Health & Social Care, new candidate

Proposed by Anne Kinch, seconded by Al Brouard

• Steve Falla – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Allister Carey, seconded by Carol Goodwin

• Jonathan Le Tocq – deputy, 2000-08 and since 2012

Proposed by Alison Ozanne, seconded by Sir de Vic Carey

• Paul Luxon – deputy 2012-16

Proposed by Doug Perkins, seconded by Alison Ozanne

• Tony Corbin – previous candidate

Proposed by Justin Guilbert, seconded by John Guille

• Steve Williams – new candidate

Proposed by Quentin Spicer, seconded by Sandra Martel-Dunn

• Sasha Kazantseva-Miller – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Estelle Levin-Nally, seconded by David Warr

• Andy Cameron - deputy since 2020

Proposed by Justin Bellinger, seconded by Katherine Wood

• Lindsay de Sausmarez – deputy since 2016

Proposed by Dame Mary Perkins, seconded by Adrian Sarchet

• Rob Harnish – previous candidate

Proposed by Catherine Hall, seconded by Sharon Ozanne

• Tim Carre – new candidate

Proposed by Caleb Presland, seconded by Adrian Carre

• Nikki Symons – new candidate

Proposed by Bob Murray, seconded by Sue Aldwell

• Barry Harris – former candidate

Proposed by Andrew Carre, seconded by Carla Beaumont

• Andrew Niles – non-voting member of Economic Development Committee, new candidate

Proposed by Russell Clark, seconded by Jonathan Le Moignan

• Liam McKenna – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Charles Parkinson, seconded by Joanne Robilliard

• Nick Moakes – deputy since 2020

Proposed by Russell Clark, seconded by Carol Goodwin

• Art Allen – former candidate

Proposed by Lester Queripel, seconded by Keith Jones

• Andy Le Lievre – deputy 2008-16

Proposed by Michelle Le Clerc, seconded by Peter Sherbourne

• Mary Lowe – conseiller 1997-2000; deputy 1994-1997 and 2000-20

Proposed by Colin Robin, seconded by Diane Archenoul

• Jennifer Strachan – new candidate

Proposed by Cyrille Joffre, seconded by Rollo de Sausmarez