THE Constable of St Saviour is being investigated by the Jersey Electoral Authority over a potential breach of election law after using the parish database to promote his campaign for re-election.
Kevin Lewis sent an email titled “news from St Saviour” to parishioners earlier this week in which he confirmed his intention to stand in this summer’s election, highlighted his achievements to date and set out ambitions for a second term in the position he has held since 2022.
But the move has drawn criticism from two rivals planning to stand against the incumbent on 7 June, as well as from fellow Constables, and been drawn to the attention of the Jersey Electoral Authority.
States Greffier Lisa Hart told the JEP: “The JEA has been made aware of this, and is considering the matter.”
David Curtis, who announced his intention to stand on 10 March, said he considered Mr Lewis’s decision to send the email was “questionable” and said he felt it was important that all candidates abide by election law.
“I’ve taken advice about my own campaign from the Attorney General and have been sure to follow it – that should be the same for everyone,” he said.
Suzanne Webb, who threw her hat into the ring a few days after Mr Curtis, questioned whether Mr Lewis had abused his position by using a platform that wasn’t available to other candidates.
“I think he should have taken advice before doing this – there’s definitely a case to answer,” she said.
There was also criticism from the chair of the Constable’s Committee, St Brelade’s Mike Jackson, who confirmed that he had received a letter of complaint which had been circulated to his counterparts.
“I believe that all of us think it’s a fairly daft thing to have done, and no Constable would condone the use of any parish resources for election purposes,” he said.
Constable Philip Le Sueur, who will step down from his role as Constable of Trinity in June, said he would not wish to single out Mr Lewis.
“I believe there are several moves that have been initiated by Members standing for re-election, including some within government, that casts doubt over whether people have used their position to try and ‘encourage’ the electorate,” he said.
Although some questions are believed to have been raised about possible data protection implications resulting from Mr Lewis’s decision to send the email, a spokesperson for the Office of the Information Commissioner said that “from our understanding, this isn’t a data protection matter”.
Mr Lewis told the JEP that he had posted information on a website in response to queries from parishioners about whether he intended to stand, but that this post had been taken down “straight away” after concerns were raised.
“It’s all been sorted out now,” he added.
After five terms representing the parish as a Deputy, starting in 2005, Mr Lewis became Constable of St Saviour in 2022.
