SENATOR Alan Maclean, who was returned to the States Assembly in June and subsequently took up his former role as Treasury Minister, was the candidate who spent the most money on his election campaign, it has been confirmed.
Almost 11 weeks after polling day, the Jersey Election Authority yesterday released the declarations of 89 of the 92 candidates to have put themselves forward as Senators, Constables and Deputies.
The vast majority of Senator Maclean’s expenses, which totalled £13,750, was taken up with £7,492 in printing for his campaign literature and £5,753 to Jersey Post for Islandwide distribution.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham racked up the second-highest expense bill, with a total of £13,310. In addition to the same Jersey Post cost as his ministerial colleague, Senator Farnham spent £994 on posters, £3,250 on printing and £2,350 on photography and videos.
Among the top ten highest spenders, all of whom stood as Senatorial candidates, three were unsuccessful: Sam Mézec, the third-highest spender at £11,609 but coming in at tenth in the Islandwide poll; Bernard Place, who spent £6,737 and finished 12th; and former Environment Minister Steve Luce, who spent £5,371 and finished in 11th place in the poll.
Eight of the nine candidates who were elected as Senators spent at least £5,319 on their campaigns, while the other successful campaign was that of Senator Tom Binet, who submitted a zero declaration – the same amount as his sister Deputy Rose Binet, who was re-elected to represent Grouville and St Martin.
Among the quirkier declarations on the Senatorial list was that of Guy De Faye, who previously served as a Deputy between 2002 and 2008. Mr De Faye’s only claim was for 100 black cable ties, costing £10.98.
Karl Busch claimed the least votes in the Islandwide election, with 1,688, although his spending of £1,338 ranked him 13th of the 17 candidates.
The biggest spender among the 23 Candidates for Constable was Inna Gardiner, who was elected in St Helier. Mrs Gardiner spent £4,184, compared with her rivals David Warr (£3,076), Rob Ward (£1,757) and Mark Le Chevalier (£1,527).
The fifth and final candidate for St Helier’s Constable – Alvin Aaron, who amassed just 75 votes – was one of three candidates whose expenses were not included among the documents uploaded yesterday. The others were Constable Tina Palmer, who was elected in St Lawrence, and Constable Marcus Troy, re-elected to serve St Clement. The Jersey Election Authority failed to respond to a JEP query about why the trio’s declarations were not included.
The largest spend among the 52 candidates for Deputy was Deputy Gerald Voisin, who declared expenses totalling £3,632 in his successful bid for election in St Helier North.
Further analysis of the election expenses will feature in the JEP next week.
Islandwide campaigners
Nine successful Senatorial candidates
- Alan Maclean — £13,750.90
- Lyndon Farnham — £13,310.60
- Helen Miles — £10,598.08
- Mark Boleat — £10,500.00
- Elaine Millar — £9,644.65
- Ian Gorst — £9,297.32
- Serena Kersten — £6,391.00
- Mary Le Hegarat — £5,319.20
- Tom Binet — £0.00
The eight who didn’t make it
- Sam Mézec — £11,609.68
- Bernard Place — £6,737.90
- Steve Luce — £5,371.22
- Martin Aliga — £1,698.23
- Karl Busch — £1,338.75
- Alan Breckon — £1,103.31
- Alan Le Pavoux — £476.70
- Guy de Faye — £10.98
