But a by-election to replace him in the spring, which will be organised once the States formally accepts his resignation next Wednesday, could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, after deputies overturned the previous Assembly’s direction not to hold a vote unless there were at least three vacancies.
The States Assembly & Constitution Committee would like the vacancy filled as soon as possible, although the practicalities of organising a free and fair election mean that voters are unlikely to go to the polls to choose their newest deputy much before Easter and possibly not until May.
‘Our committee has had some discussion as part of early preparations for this eventuality,’ said Sacc president Sarah Hansmann Rouxel.
‘There are many matters that have to be considered before the committee will be in a position to submit anything relating to a by-election to the Assembly for approval.
‘In general terms, the committee’s view is that it would want to see a by-election held as soon as practicable while recognising that, as the first ever by-election under the island-wide voting system, this is a significant undertaking that will require sufficient time to prepare and deliver.’
The cost of an island-wide by-election was previously estimated at £250,000, compared to less than £40,000 under the old electoral district system.
Sacc said work was under way to provide a detailed revised estimated cost, but it is understood that the committee has already asked officials to stick to a maximum budget of £200,000.
‘As this would be a much smaller electoral event than a full general election, not all of the logistics required for a general election will be necessary for a by-election, and, accordingly, the committee anticipates incurring much lower costs,’ said Deputy Hansmann Rouxel.
The Guernsey Press revealed on Friday that Deputy Le Tocq had indicated his intention to resign, hours after being publicly encouraged to step down by Policy & Resources president Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, following his guilty plea to a total of 15 charges of making, sending and possessing more than 2,400 indecent images of children. It is understood that he may initially have tried to resign on a future date rather than immediately.
An additional Billet d’Etat issued yesterday afternoon for next Wednesday’s States meeting stated that Deputy Le Tocq ‘informed the presiding officer [Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon] of his desire to resign in writing by way of a letter dated 4 December’.
Candidates hoping to win the vacant seat in the States will be invited to take part in election interviews on the Guernsey Press Politics Podcast.
‘We received a hugely positive response to our in-depth interviews with candidates at the general election this summer,’ said editor James Falla.
‘We know thousands of voters used our interviews as their major source of information on candidates and we’re sure they will be invaluable again at this unexpected by-election.’
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