Steve Pallett has said that he wants to be able to focus on sporting issues should he be re-elected in next May’s general election and doing so would be ‘difficult to do from the side of the Constable’s desk’.
He admitted that seeking an Islandwide mandate would ‘not be easy’ as there are likely to be a lot of strong candidates but added that he hoped that he would be able to champion the importance of sport and promote the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Mr Pallett was first elected as St Brelade Constable in 2011 and is currently an Assistant Economic Development Minister with responsibility for sport as well as Assistant Environment Minister.
He said: ‘It is nothing to do with not enjoying the role – I am lucky to have had a really loyal and hard-working group of staff at the parish hall who have supported me greatly, had great support from the people of the parish and I have really enjoyed my six-and-a-half years as Constable.
‘There are areas within sport – particularly sports facilities – that I need to be committed to. It is not fair to the parish and not fair to the public to try to split it.’
He admitted that he had a ‘bit of a tear in my eye’ when he announced to parishioners that he would be vacating his Constable’s seat and hoped to see good candidates step forward to take the role.
‘It is a difficult job,’ he said. ‘I wanted to give the parish plenty of notice of my intentions but also it is a position that people need to give a lot of thought to before they stand.’
Mr Pallett becomes the fourth Islander to confirm their intention to stand in next May’s Senatorial race alongside current Senators Lyndon Farnham and Sarah Ferguson and disability campaigner and political newcomer Anthony Lewis.
The St Brelade Constable added: ‘I hope I can get some support Islandwide for the issues that I think are really important.
‘Whatever happens in May I will be doing something I enjoy – I have a plan B. I hope I am fortunate enough to be elected as a Senator – it won’t be easy I realise that – but there are a number of issues I want to be able to fully commit to.
‘And if the new Constable wants some advice or assistance then I am quite happy to help if I can. There are committees that I am on and charities that I support in St Brelade so I want to stay involved as it is a parish that has given a lot to me.’
