THE election campaign is heating up as two new candidates and a sitting Senator have announced their intention to stand.
Senator Kristina Moore will be joined at the polls by data scientist Alex Curtis and Cooper and Co coffee owner David Warr.
Senator Moore will be standing in the newly formed district of St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter, while Mr Curtis is hoping to secure one of the St Clement seats and Mr Warr is aiming to represent St Helier.
The trio, alongside JEP assistant editor Lucy Stephenson, who has already declared her candidacy for St Mary, St Ouen and St Peter, will be joining forces as a collaboration of independent candidates – but will not be forming a party.
The Better Way coalition describes itself as a group of independents with some shared principles and a commitment to working together should they be elected.
Mr Curtis said: ‘We believe that it is important to maintain the Island’s traditionally independent, consensus-based politics. However, in a world facing great instability, those who are elected in June must be ready to work together in a positive way and respond to what may become a rapidly changing scenario.’
Mrs Stephenson added that the group had been brought together by a ‘strong set of values and principles’. She said: ‘We are stronger together and, together, we are determined to offer positive politics, alongside open and transparent leadership in an uncertain world.’
While the group will work together on certain issues, its members will not be bound by party lines.
Mr Warr said: ‘In order to represent the people, we intend to engage with the people and that starts with listening. We have a series of events planned across the Island. We hope that people will be as excited to get involved in these elections as we are. What is really important is that people register to vote and have their voice heard on 22 June.’
This year’s election will be the first contested under radical reforms of the composition of the States Assembly, which were agreed last year.
Under the new voting structure, the Islandwide office of Senator will be scrapped. Instead, the Assembly will be made up of the 12 parish Constables and 37 Deputies across nine newly formed districts.
Current head of Scrutiny Senator Moore said: ‘We aim to have candidates in every district. Some cannot announce they are standing just yet and we welcome anyone who thinks a Better Way is for them to get in touch.’
Better Way candidates will be supported during the campaign by Toni Roberts, Robert Surcouf and Marisa Warren, although they are not standing for election.
This year’s election will see a number of newly formed parties contesting the seats, with Jersey Alliance, Jersey Liberal Conservatives and The Progress Party – led by Sir Mark Boleat, Sir Philip Bailhache and Senator Steve Pallett respectively – joining the already established Reform Jersey.
Reform Jersey, led by Senator Sam Mézec, announced its first new candidate last week with the news that environmentalist Nigel Jones was going to stand in St Brelade.
