Groundhog reform day is June 4th.

Yes there is to be another States debate on  (not) reforming themselves.  Given the criticism made by the Commonwealth observers at the last election, it is hard  to see how no change can be supported.  PPC have a proposal that pretty much  meets all the expected international convention criteria.  You can see the proposal explained at   -voting-reform-cards-again/





I think there is a small wrinkle that can be dealt with in an amendment.  As it stands it is possible in these constituencies that none of the representatives lives, works or has any tie to one of the member parishes.  Most likely to affect St Mary because of it's small population. 



To deal with that I would argue  for  giving the  constables  a right of audience (not a vote) in the States Assembly to raise parish specific matters.  I would also argue they should have the right to make a proposition  but only where requested to do so by a Parish Assembly. 


Of course that still leaves a problem that there is no overall Island wide mandate for anyone.  No change is going to give everyone what they want.  On the plus side, potentially, just nine districts would mean a party or campaign group could realistically aim to have a representative stand in every constituency.  We might get some seriously thought out, comprehensive and detailed competing manifestos and programmes for government.  Wouldn't that be novel.

It is all too personal

In an Island of just over 100,000 people officially, I guess I know about a thousand with some chance of remembering the name that goes with the face.  What does it say about our electoral system and its representativeness then that I personally know 8 of the 11 candidates nominated for the by-election tonight, and two others are somewhat familiar to me from previous elections.  I expect six of those would recognise me too.  Elections shouldn't be that personal, it really isn't a healthy sign.

Here are the candidates

Alvin Aaron
Nick Le Cornu
Mike Dun
Guy de Faye
Sarah Ferguson
Christian May
Sam Mezec
Stevie Ocean
Mary O'Keeffe-Burgher
Hugh Raymond
John Young 

Yes, I'm not one of them.  Yes, I was asked by a few people, but really what would standing achieve?  Without a detailed wide ranging and coherent thought out manifesto for government and an organisation  and some support by other elected members for that programme, nothing will happen. There are only 2 candidates on that list who from my knowledge have any grasp of the ecological and environmental issues, but I suspect neither will make it a major element of their election bid.  

Hustings as in number of are being hotly debated, but why I wonder.  In all my time campaigning in local, county and national election in the UK I never had a candidate hustings.  That only ever happened in student elections and in candidate selection meetings.  The format with more than a handful of candidates leaves no scope for debate , no means to challenge other candidates positions and policies.  Just like the vapid statements so often put out as manifestos, it reduces the whole affair to little more than a name recognition  exercise for the public.  I guess that suits those with dubious to shredded records to defend , or in our system not have to defend. 

I am not against having hustings.  I've done them and I think it is good the electorate have an opportunity to see the candidates and hear someething of them.  However it is to my mind inadequate and insufficient for the reasons given above.