On the election trail...

The rosettes are finally being worn! Bought four years ago in anticipation of my first election campaign, Elaine and I are wearing our rosettes and taking every opportunity to remind parishioners that there is an election for Connétable.
St Saviour held the first Hustings for Connétable on Thursday, 22 October, and we were delighted to see a good turn out to listen to Sadie Rennard and I answer parishioners' questions. The Parish Hall was virtually full and there was an enthusiastic and friendly atmosphere... after all, we all want the same thing: the best for our Parish.
I am already out and about in the Parish, as I so often am, meeting people, listening to your views and sharing mine.
There are some notable events coming up ... deliveries have begun of La Cloche, our parish magazine, and that contains a feature on all the St Saviour candidates for election, as well as lots of parish news.
On Friday, 7 October, between 9 and 10 am, Sadie and I will be taking part in a radio phone-in programme on BBC Radio Jersey and you will be receiving a copy of my manifesto in the next week or so.
I am trying to visit as many people as I can but, with more than 8,000 on the Electoral Roll, I am not going to get to everybody so do try and come along to my candidate's surgery on Wednesday, 12 October between 6 and 8 pm at Le Quesne's Garden Centre. There is plenty of parking outside and I will be happy to discuss any issues you may have.

Paying the rate for the job

It was a solemn moment to step up as Connétable on to the stage in our magnificent Salle Paroissiale on 10th July for our annual parish assembly to fix the rate. It’s good to see so many of our most community-minded parishioners at this important meeting, but I am always a little surprised that more people don’t attend. For a community to be able to decide how they want to spend their money and vote on the level of tax they should charge themselves has always seemed to me to be the ultimate in democracy. We have the opportunity to make our individual voices heard in the decisions made about parish finances and that has to be a responsibility we take seriously for ourselves, our families and our community.
The Parish Rate has been fixed at 0.85p per quarter, the Island Wide Rate at 0.64p for domestic and 1.16p for non-domestic ratepayers and so the total rate will be 1.49p per quarter for domestic and 2.01p for non-domestic ratepayers.