But poll-topper Tracey Vallois has ruled out running for the top job in Jersey politics and has instead set her sights on the role of Education Minister.
Speaking about her plans, she said: ‘It was never my intention to run for Chief Minister. I am really grateful that I have topped the poll but my platform was education.
‘I think we have seriously got to get to grips with the education system, not just schooling but skills and life-long learning.
‘We need to change and instead of following failing systems start looking elsewhere for best practice and support teachers and therefore the children in achieving.’
The Senator-elect, who will be the subject of tomorrow’s Saturday Interview, added that investment would be needed along with a major Islandwide conversation about the long-term future of Jersey’s education system.
The Chief Minister’s job will be contested by the incumbent, Senator Ian Gorst, Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham and Senator-elect John Le Fondré.
It is understand that both challengers have already started gauging their level of support from the new-look Assembly.
Sources have told the JEP that some senior politicians believe Senator Gorst should withdraw from the Chief Minister contest and instead seek to stand for External Relations Minister.
And Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore – buoyed by a strong performance at the polls which saw her finish second in the Senatorial election – is also considering entering the race.
Confirming his intention to stand for Chief Minister, Senator Farnham said: ‘I want my position to be made absolutely clear – I intend to stand for Chief Minister and I’m not doing any deals with anyone.
‘I made it clear before the election that I intended to stand for Chief Minister and I did that because I wanted the electorate to know what my plans were so they could give them consideration when deciding who to vote for.
‘It seems like there will be two or three candidates standing and that will be a good thing. With the challenges that Jersey is facing now that position needs to be fiercely contested and I intend to be in this contest.’
Meanwhile, a defiant Senator-elect Sam Mézec, who scraped onto the Senatorial benches in eighth place, has said he never regretted standing for an Islandwide mandate.
And he added that anti-Reform Jersey leaflets containing ‘lies’ about one of the party’s candidates would be referred to the States police.
It was a long night for Senator-elect Mézec who narrowly claimed one of the Islandwide seats following a resounding victory in his home parish of St Helier. That town swing meant he claimed the last of the Senatorial seats from Moz Scott by just 123 votes. Ms Scott has opted not to ask for a recount.
Senator-elect Mézec admitted that he became ‘pessimistic’ about his chances as the night wore on but was delighted to be returned.
And he said the gains made by Reform Jersey in St Helier No 2 – where Deputies-elect Rob Ward and Carina Alves both won seats – coupled with the team mentality shown by other candidates demonstrated that party politics was on the rise in the Island.
The Reform Jersey chairman said that the party had faced a series of smear campaigns – the most serious of which saw hundreds of leaflets posted through St Helier letterboxes by an opponent of the party containing allegations relating to the conduct of Reform Jersey vice-chairman Deputy Geoff Southern. The allegations were also posted online.
Senator-elect Mézec said: ‘I think we were subject to the worst dirty tactics I have seen.
‘It is an offence to lie about a candidate during an election for the purpose of influencing the vote.’ He said that two of the statements on the leaflets were ‘true and a matter of public record’ but the other two allegations are ‘completely untrue’.
Reform Jersey headquarters had a sombre feeling for much of election night as Senator-elect Mézec had been outside the top eight places throughout. There were scenes of jubilation when the final result gave the chairman the swing he needed to return to the States.
‘It was an emotional night,’ Senator-elect Mézec said. ‘Throughout the night I did veer towards the pessimistic but my colleagues supported me throughout and when I was down they were incredibly supportive.
‘I would never have regretted going for the Islandwide mandate – Reform Jersey needed its chairman to go for an Islandwide mandate and I’m so grateful St Helier came out and voted for me.’
