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2008 Sark general election

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FieldValue
party_nameno
election_name2008 Sark general election
countrySark
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
next_election2010 Sark general election
next_year2010
seats_for_election28 (of the 30) seats in the Chief Pleas
election_date10 December 2008
colour1808080
party1Traditionalist
seats1**23**
popular_vote1**6,323**
colour2000000
party2Pro-
seats25
popular_vote22,779
map_imageUk map guernsey.png
map_size150px
map_captionThe location of the Bailiwick of Guernsey which includes Sark
registered474

General elections were held in Sark on 10 December 2008, the first elections on the island.

Fifty-seven candidates (12% of the 474 eligible electors) stood for 28 seats in the Chief Pleas. The elected members in the new Chief Pleas were titled Conseillers and replaced the mixed system of elected People's Deputies and ex officio Tenants in the outgoing Chief Pleas. The President of the Chief Pleas continued to be the Seneschal, whose term was extended from three years to life. The Conseillers elected in 2008 served either four or two-year terms. 14 Conseillers elected for two-year terms served until the 2010 election, held in December 2010; while the remainder served four years terms, thus achieving a rolling election cycle. The selection of which Conseillers elected in 2008 were to serve a two-year term or a four-year term was determined by random ballot.

A recount took place on 11 December due to the closeness of the votes for the 28th seat.

Background

On 16 January and 21 February 2008, the Chief Pleas approved a law which introduced a 30-member chamber, with 28 elected members and two unelected members. On 9 April 2008 the Privy Council approved the Sark law reforms, and the new chamber convened for the first time on 21 January 2009.

Electoral system

The first election held in Sark under the new system took place on 10 December 2008. In total, 28 Conseillers were to be elected via plurality block voting from 57 candidates, with the latter figure representing about 12% of the electorate in the island. A recount was ordered as several of the candidates for the last seat were separated by only a few votes.

Results

The elections reflected the division throughout the island between those who supported the traditional system (Pro-Reform Law 2008 Candidates, or the establishment), and those who supported further reforms advocated by the Barclay brothers (Anti-Reform Law 2008 Candidates).

Results from the second count were:

PositionCandidatePartyVotesYears
1**David Thomas Cocksedge**336
2**Rossford John de Carteret**318
3**Helen Mildred Plummer**302
4**David Woods Melling**284
5**Helen Clair Magell**282
6**Christopher Howard Bateson**280
7**Antony Dunks**270
8**Stephen Laurence Henry**266
9**David Pollard**263
9**Andrew Charles Prevel**263
11**Elizabeth Mary Dewe**253
11**Sandra Williams**Traditionalist253
13**Edric Baker**Traditionalist249
14**Paul Williams**242
15**Diane Baker**233
16**Paul Martin Armorgie**230
17**Andrew James Cook**228
18**Richard James Dewe**227
18**Charles Noel Donald Maitland**227
20**Michelle Andrée Perrée**224
21**Christopher Robert Nightingale**215
22**Janet Mary Guy**Traditionalist212
22**John Edward Hunt**212
24**Anthony Granville Ventress**201
25**Stefan Bernd Gomoll**200
26**Ann Atkinson**199
27**Christine Dorothy Audrain**185
28**Peter John Cole**184
29Philip James Carré179
30Tony Eric le Lievre178
31William George Raymond169
32Peter Blayney Stisted169
33Bertha Helen Cole165
34Simon Peter ElmontPro-Barclay brothers147
35Bernard John Southern136
36Kevin Patrick DelaneyPro-Barclay brothers131
37Peter Francis Luce Tonks123
38Simon Ashley Couldridge122
39John Trevor Greer Donnelly118
40Paul David Mitchell Burgess117
41Roger Ian Wynne Kemp106
42Colin Francis John Guille104
43Belinda Doyle96
44Michael Joseph Doyle93
45Mini McCusker91
45Natalie Tighe91
47Fiona Ann Bird90
48Cheryl Mary Tonks85
49Natalie Alexandra Criak82
50Daniel Walter Robert Parsons75
51David John Bird74
52Kevin Laws70
53Kaye Jin Mee Char59
54Jamie Karl John Swanson50
55Leigh Dianne Gibbins45
56Susan Christine Strachey43
57Javie John Dance14

After the results of the ballot were declared, a separate ballot was held among the 28 successful Conseillers to determine which would serve for two years, and which for four years, which is indicated by the figure after the number of votes. Since the initial period, Conseillers have served four-year terms with half elected every two years.

Reaction of the Barclay brothers

When it became apparent that only about five candidates they had supported had been elected, the Barclay brothers announced that they were shutting down their businesses on Sark – hotels, shops, estate agents and building firms – leaving about 100 people, or a sixth of the population, out of work. The closures started almost immediately following the announcement. Diana Beaumont, the wife of Seigneur John Michael Beaumont, commented that "[the Barclay brothers] were the ones that started all this democracy business, now they don’t like it because they haven't won." The States of Jersey, sitting in session on 12 December 2008, resolved to send a message of support to its sister island of Sark.

In January 2009, the Barclays quietly began reversing the shutdown process.

References

References

  1. (9 December 2008). "Sark Election: the candidates". [[BBC News Online.
  2. (5 December 2008). "Sark is getting into". ThisIsGuernsey.com.
  3. (11 December 2008). "Historic election recount ordered". [[BBC News Online]].
  4. (9 April 2008). "Sark democracy plans are approved". [[BBC News Online]].
  5. Harrell, Eben. (17 January 2008). "A Revolution Not Televised". [[Time (magazine).
  6. (January 2008). "After 443 years, Sark gets democracy". [[The Bugle]].
  7. (22 February 2008). "Sark agrees switch to democracy". [[BBC News Online]].
  8. (10 December 2008). "Sark votes in first-ever election". [[BBC News Online]].
  9. (11 December 2008). "Historic election recount ordered". [[BBC News Online]].
  10. (11 December 2008). "European feudalism finally ends as Sark heads for democracy". [[The Independent]].
  11. (11 December 2008). "Sark Election – Provisional results in". [[Channel Television]].
  12. Sark's new look Chief Pleas. (10 December 2008). "Sark's new look Chief Pleas". bbc.co.uk.
  13. (11 December 2008). "Sark's new look Chief Pleas". [[BBC News online]].
  14. (11 December 2008). "Barclays shut down Sark interests". [[BBC News Online]].
  15. (11 December 2008). "More than 100 job losses in Sark". [[Channel Television]].
  16. (12 December 2008). "Barclays' Sark closures under way". [[BBC News Online]].
  17. (12 December 2008). "Barclay twins cut up rough in Sark". The [[First Post]].
  18. (12 December 2008). "Jersey support for 'sister' Sark". BBC News Online.
  19. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/barclays-reinstate-sark-staff-sacked-after-poll-1520407.html Taylor, Jerome. "Barclays reinstate Sark staff sacked after poll: Happy ending for workers who fell victim to tycoons' election setback".] {{Webarchive. link. (13 February 2017 ''[[The Independent]]'' 30 January 2009)
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