Disability campaigner Anthony Lewis – a former Jersey Evening Post journalist who stood in May’s Senatorial election, finishing tenth in the race for eight seats – and Inna Gardiner, a management consultant, who finished fifth in the district’s Deputy election last year, have both declared.
The by-election has been called following the death of Deputy Richard Rondel.
Mr Lewis suffers from communication-disorder aphasia following a stroke more than a decade ago. He has since raised thousands of pounds for disability charities through a series of endurance challenges.
He said: ‘I will be standing for election in the St Helier No 3/4 district. Richard Rondel was an excellent parish Deputy, who understood the value of our community and who worked tirelessly to support it. I will put forward my name to continue that work.’
Mr Lewis added that he had been ‘hugely encouraged’ by the support he received at the May general election, when he came within 300 votes of gaining a Senatorial seat.
‘My candidacy is about more than disability,’ he said. ‘I look forward to putting my views and plans about our community life, the environment and development across.’
Meanwhile, Mrs Gardiner, who narrowly missed out on claiming one of the district’s seats in May, said she hoped to make Jersey more inclusive.
‘I am standing because I believe that I can help make Jersey more inclusive and a place which empowers all residents,’ she said. ‘I strongly believe our community has the resources to serve Jersey when working together. This community ethos is at the heart of my campaign.
‘Deputy Rondel worked tirelessly for the people he represented, was always approachable and maintained the highest standards of integrity. If elected I would do my utmost to live up to this example.’
Businessman Gordon George Troy, Jersey Beach Festival founder Andrea Mallet and St Helier procureur du bien public Geraint Jennings have also
announced they will be standing in the election on 27 February.
