A HOSPITALITY professional has announced her candidacy for the position of Deputy in her home parish of St Clement.
Joanne Vandermerwe-Mahon, who has lived in Jersey for the past 20 years, said she had been motivated to stand through a deep care about the community, particularly in her home parish.
In a LinkedIn post, Mrs Vandermerwe-Mahon said: “My background is in hospitality, and over the past seven years I have worked closely with local businesses to upskill and empower their teams.
“That experience has given me a clear, practical understanding of what is shaping Jersey today, from workforce challenges to economic pressures – I bring that real-world insight into everything I do.”
Praising the “unique identity and strong sense of belonging” in St Clement, she said these features had to be protected at the same time as decisions to support long-term resilience were made.
She added: “I am naturally people-focused and driven by a desire to make a positive difference.
“I listen carefully, understand what motivates others, and work to bring people together around solutions, but I also believe that understanding must lead to action – people do not just want to be heard, they want to see progress.”
Priority areas cited by the election hopeful, who has worked as a television presenter in addition to her hospitality interests, are:
- A healthcare system that works in practice, not just in theory.
- Infrastructure that keeps pace with the community it serves.
- A responsible approach to population that protects quality of life while attracting people who contribute positively to the Island.
- Practical solutions to ease the cost of living for families.
Mrs Vandermerwe-Mahon concluded: “I am not standing to make promises – I am standing to deliver, and to represent St Clement in a way that is grounded, practical, and focused on results.”
At least seven candidates are now set to have their names on the ballot paper in St Clement, with three Deputies set to be elected on 7 June. Alongside Mrs Vandermerwe-Mahon will be incumbent Deputies Karen Wilson, Barbara Ward and Alex Curtis, former Deputy Lindsay Ash and two candidates from Reform Jersey – Mick Robbins and Noah Jervis.
