2008 Sark general election


General elections were held in Sark on 10 December 2008, the first elections on the island.
Fifty-seven candidates 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 for-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 introduces 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 from 57 candidates, with the latter figure representing about 12% of the electorate in the island. Each voter received 28 votes to select their preferred candidates for each of the available seats. 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 "Sark chasm" throughout the island between those who supported the traditional system and those who supported further reforms. The overwhelming majority of candidates who were elected had either previously voted in Chief Pleas to enact the 2008 Reform Law, or had made public statements in support of it, and since advocated the further dismantling of the feudal system via the reform of the ancient feudal land tenure laws.
Results from the second count were:
PositionCandidateVotesYears
1David Thomas Cocksedge3362
2Rossford John de Carteret3184
3Helen Mildred Plummer3022
4David Woods Melling2842
5Helen Clair Magell2824
6Christopher Howard Bateson2802
7Antony Dunks2704
8Stephen Laurence Henry2664
9David Pollard2634
9Andrew Charles Prevel2634
11Elizabeth Mary Dewe2534
11Sandra Williams2534
13Edric Baker2492
14Paul Williams2424
15Diane Baker2332
16Paul Martin Armorgie2304
17Andrew James Cook2284
18Richard James Dewe2272
18Charles Noel Donald Maitland2274
20Michelle Andrée Perrée2242
21Christopher Robert Nightingale2152
22Janet Mary Guy2122
22John Edward Hunt2122
24Anthony Granville Ventress2012
25Stefan Bernd Gomoll2002
26Ann Atkinson1994
27Christine Dorothy Audrain1854
28Peter John Cole1842
29Philip James Carré179
30Tony Eric le Lievre178
31William George Raymond169
32Peter Blayney Stisted169
33Bertha Helen Cole165
34Simon Peter Elmont147
35Bernard John Southern136
36Kevin Patrick Delaney131
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. After the initial period, Conseillers will serve 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 " 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.