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Who are the runners and riders for Guernsey's next committee presidents?

Who are the runners and riders for Guernsey's next committee presidents?

ITV News12 hours ago
The next big bit of business facing Guernsey's freshly elected deputies is to choose who, other than Policy and Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez, will hold the balance of power in the new States.
The island has 13 political committees that devise policy on everything from housing to law enforcement. They are led by presidents, who are seen as the public face of their decision-making.
That can come at a cost. In the last election, four committee presidents lost their seats, including the President for Education, Sport and Culture, Andrea Dudley-Owen.
It's believed that the Policy and Resources Committee will look to propose certain candidates for top jobs, which, if successful, will further strengthen their grip on the Assembly as a whole.
Politicians will vote for the positions on Friday (4 July) and while there could be some surprises, here is who we expect to stand in the different races:
Economic Development
Even before the election, the race to succeed Neil Inder as President of Economic Development was well in motion.
Sasha Kazantseva-Miller has made clear her desire to succeed her colleague and is the clear favourite. Serving as Inder's vice-president in the last term, she is well-positioned to get the job.
However, she may face competition from a key proponent of the offshore wind farm, Chris Blin, who is also targeting the role.
With the departure of Carl Meerveld, who was the chair of the group that led on the project, Blin will consider his commitment to what he describes as the "biggest economic enabler the island has ever seen" as fundamental to the office.
Marc Laine, a long-established businessman, is also eyeing up a bid.
Education, Sport and Culture
It's referred to as the 'poisoned chalice' of Guernsey politics.
So much so, you have to go back 20 years to see the last time a president from the committee was re-elected.
Aidan Matthews, who is in his second term as a deputy, is looking to avoid the same fate. In his manifesto, he wants to repair the relationship between private colleges and the Government.
A returning deputy at the election, Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, is also interested in leading the committee. She wants to reform Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support and modernise the Education Law.
Despite ruling it out on air, I've also heard rumours that Guernsey's National Education Union (NEU) representative and teacher Paul Montague is now interested in leading this committee. He finished higher in the poll than any of the other newly elected deputies, so he could be a popular choice.
Employment and Social Security
We may well see an uncontested election for this presidency with Tina Bury looking to succeed Peter Roffey for a place on the top bench.
According to her manifesto, she wants to look again at long-term care funding, something that dominated discussion towards the back end of the last States' term.
Environment and Infrastructure
In another potentially uncontested election, Adrian Gabriel will be seen as the frontrunner to succeed de Sausmarez as E&I President.
Serving as her vice-president in the last term, he wants to introduce incentives for private developments and enable modular construction options for housing.
Health and Social Care
With another outgoing president, Health and Social Care will see a new name at the helm.
It appears this may well be a battle between two deputies - Marc Leadbeater and George Oswald.
Leadbeater served as Al Brouard's vice-president in the last term. He's long supported a relaxation in restrictions around cannabis.
Oswald, another newcomer to the States, worked as a doctor and co-founded the Medical Specialist Group.
Housing
Housing is one of Guernsey's most pressing issues but, as of yet, there is nobody desperately seeking the presidency of the newest States' committee.
There is talk of Steve Williams being interested in becoming its first president. According to his manifesto, he wants to review all of the large housing projects and see how they can progress faster.
Given that the committee was her brainchild, Kazantseva-Miller may well be seen as the person who should lead it.
Home Affairs
The sitting Home Affairs president, Rob Prow, lost his seat at the last election.
His vice-president in the last Assembly, Simon Vermeulen, is positioning himself to take over from Prow. An experienced States' member, he may well receive a lot of backing.
He could be challenged by new deputy Jayne Ozanne, who finished 28th in the public poll at the election.
Scrutiny Management Committee
The last President, Yvonne Burford, has decided not to put her name forward again.
Instead, newcomer Andy Sloan has said he's interested in the job. He was the former chief economist to the States and served on the Fiscal Policy Panel.
Father of the House, John Gollop, is also an interested party. A member for nearly 30 years, his experience could win the backing of his colleagues.
Development and Planning Authority
John Gollop is also interested in serving here if he isn't successful elsewhere. Burford, who finished second in the poll behind De Sausmarez, is also keen to take on the role.
States Assembly and Constitution Committee
Following the ousting of Carl Meerveld, a new deputy will take on the role of managing the rules and procedures of the Assembly. Burford says she may well stand for this job.
She could face competition from Sarah Hannsman-Rouxel and potentially John Gollop.
States Trading and Supervisory Board
Despite making his candidacy a significant part of his manifesto, it's been reported that Neil Inder may not fancy this position but that could change.
Following his unsuccessful bid to become President of Policy and Resources, Mark Helyar is also looking to stand.
There will also be elections for head of the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, and Transport Licensing Authority, but members who are interested in those roles seem to be keeping their cards close to their chest for now.
Following the committee president elections, all the other committee members will be decided on Monday (7 July).
Then, they will all take their seats in the first meeting of the new States on Tuesday 15 July.
Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
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