The Jerseygeneral election, 2008 was a series of elections that were taking place in two stages in October and November 2008 in Jersey.
Constable elections
For the first time since 1948 the elections of constables for the twelve parishes of Jersey have been synchronised so that polling, where necessary, will take place on the same day as the senatorial election on 15 October 2008, in accordance with the Connétables Law 2008. At Assemblies of Electors held in nine parishes on 17 September 2008, constables in five parishes were returned unopposed: St Brelade, St Martin, St Ouen, Trinity and St Saviour. The constables of the other parishes declined to stand down to recontest their seats, preferring to serve out their full term so that the provisions of the law will apply to the next mandate from 2011.
St Clement
Sitting Constable Derek Gray did not seek re-election. Senator Leonard Norman beat Deputy Gerard Baudains and Centenier Edgar Wallis.
Following his 2008 re-election, Simon Crowcroft declared that he would not stand down to fight a second election in ten months, despite speculation that he would fight a senatorial campaign with a view to becoming Chief Minister.
St Lawrence
Deputy Deidre Mezbourian beat Chef de Police Tim Tindall.
St Mary
Sitting Constable Ken Le Brun is standing down. Deputy Juliette Gallichan beat former Chef de Police Terry Renouf.
St Peter
John Refault beat Deputy Collin Egré.
Senatorial election
The senatorial election took place on 15 October 2008. The election was island-wide and there were six seats available. At the Assembly of Electors held in Saint Helier on 16 September 2008, 21 candidates were nominated. Final results are as follows:
Candidates
Three sitting senators did not seek re-election:
Wendy Kinnard
Frank Walker
Leonard Norman
The following candidates were sitting senators seeking re-election:
Philip Ozouf
Paul Routier
Mike Vibert
The following candidates were sitting deputies seeking who ran in the senatorial election:
Alan Breckon
Sarah Ferguson
Alan Maclean
Peter Troy
Geoff Southern
Candidates declared the following political affiliations:
Nick Le Cornu and Montfort Tadier were members of Time4Change/Reform
Daniel Wimberley, Mark Forskitt, and Nick Palmer are members of Jersey 2020
Deputy elections
The election for deputies took place on 26 November 2008. Twelve new deputies were elected, five sitting deputies lost their seats and four were reelected without opposition.
St Brelade
St Brelade No. 1
St Brelade No. 2
St Clement
Grouville
Carolyn Labey won unopposed.
St Helier
St Helier No. 1
Incumbents Le Claire and Martin were joined by JDA candidate Trevor Pitman, husband of Shona Pitman re-elected in neighbouring St Helier No. 2
Paul Le Claire 634
Judy Martin 601
Trevor Pitman 487
Nick Le Cornu 406
Katy Ringsdore 387
Brian Beadle 229
Chris Whitworth 144
St Helier No. 2
All three seats taken by JDA candidates; Southern and Pitman as incumbents joined by de Sousa.
Geoff Southern 665
Shona Pitman 598
Debbie de Sousa 444
Rod Bryans 412
Sue Stoker 301
Adrian Walsh 228
Giffard Aubin 100
On 20 February 2009 Geoff Southern and Shona Pitman pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to charges of contravening the Public Elections Law with respect to irregularities in postal voting procedure, and were referred to the Royal Court for sentencing. They have also faced calls to annul the result of the election.
St Helier No.3/4
A recount to decide fourth place meant that incumbent Fox retained his seat by one vote. Incumbent Hilton topped the poll, but incumbent Huet lost her seat and incumbent de Faye, outgoing Minister for Transport and Technical services, was heavily defeated.
Ryan, an incumbent in St Helier No. 1, stood in his parish of residence but was defeated by Rondel who had been Deputy for St John before standing down in 2005
The 2008 general election is the first in which 16- and 17-year-old voters will take part, following a law to reduce voting age to 16. The law was brought into force on 12 March 2008 and became effective on 1 April 2008.
