Richard Buchanan, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the finance industry and has lived in St Ouen for 38 years, will contest the seat being made vacant by Mr Paddock who announced his decision not to seek re-election in the parish magazine Lé Gris Ventre.
Mr Buchanan (62), an Old Victorian, said that he had always had an interest in politics and felt that he wanted to give something back to the community.
‘I have a strong background in financial services and I think I have something to contribute,’ he said. ‘We have a lot of difficult things facing us in the next few years – you can either sit on the fence or you can do something, and anyone who knows me will know that I would want to do something.’
He has recently retired as a director at investment company Alexander Forbes, having previously worked as managing director of the Jersey branch of a major European Banking group and head of marketing and sales for the offshore business of a major UK savings bank with responsibility for offices around the world.
Mr Buchanan said that there would be ‘a huge learning curve’, should he be elected to the States, but that with his background, he would hope to contribute to resolving some of the issues which lay ahead, including the effects of a Brexit deal.
‘Jersey needs to protect its unique position, being able to trade with the common market as part of the common agricultural policy,’ he said.
Married to Marion – whose father Edwin Godel served as Constable of St Mary – with a son and daughter and a grandson, Mr Buchanan said that St Ouen was very special to him, having lived there for all his married life.
He has served the parish in an honorary capacity for the past ten years, as Centenier, Vingtenier and Constable’s Officer, and his hobbies include motor sport and boating. He is a past president of the Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club and is currently secretary and publicity officer; a past Commodore of St Catherine’s Sailing Club; and past Captain of Gorey Regatta.
He said that he had worked closely with Mr Paddock over the years and paid tribute to the contribution the Constable had made. ‘He has been an excellent Constable – he’s going to be sorely missed,’ he said.
Mr Paddock said that it had been a great honour to serve the parish and the Island and after around 20 years of honorary service and six years as Constable, he had ‘made the difficult decision’ not to seek re-election.
‘The role has been fulfilling, stimulating, challenging, and at times very humbling, and I will always be sincerely grateful for the undivided loyalty I have had from long-standing supporters from within the parish,’ he said.
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