SIXTY-THREE candidates today began the battle for just 25 seats in the biggest Deputies’ elections in recent history.
The candidates, who were last night formally nominated to stand in the elections, will spend the next 20 days fighting for a three-year term in office.
In St Helier alone, 25 hopefuls, including five of those who failed in the Senatorial elections, will campaign for just ten seats on offer across the three districts. And in St Brelade No 2, eight candidates will fight for just two seats.
The total number of those standing is significantly higher than the 50 who declared in the last round of elections in 2005. In total, candidates will be elected in 13 districts when Islanders go to the polls on 26 November.
The total number of candidates was boosted by a flurry of late entries, including Adrian Walsh for St Helier No 2, Martin Greene in St Martin, Mark Sutton in St Brelade No 1, Glenn George in St Saviour No 2 and Jeremy Strickland and Philip Maguire in St Clement.
Meanwhile, four Deputies are already looking forward to a further three-year term after being re-elected without a contest. Deputy Roy Le Hérissier was returned to the St Saviour No 3 seat, Deputy James Reed was re-elected in St Ouen, Deputy Anne Pryke was returned to her seat in Trinity and Deputy Carolyn Labey was re-elected in Grouville.
• Picture: The St Helier nomination meeting
