AFTER a recount and an agonisingly long wait Barry Cash (pictured) was relieved to be re-elected as a St Peter Port douzenier last night.
He described how he felt when he found he would fill one of the five seats available after receiving 184 votes.
‘It gives you a feeling of being wanted, a warm, glowing feeling,’ he said. ‘When Deputy Tasker came out and said there had to be a recount because it was so close, I began to wonder – well, you never know do you? It’s been years since I stood up and asked the public to vote for me.’
The committed parishioner, who was first elected overseer of the poor in 2003, then to the douzaine in 2004 and then as a constable in 2006, said he felt happy the public wanted him to continue his work. ‘I want to congratulate everyone who was elected. I feel disappointed for Mr Pike, but I urge him to try again,’ he said.
‘It is always sad when good people put their names forward but don’t get a civic position. It’s great that they step up for it – a lot of people don’t.’
He said he would like to see more people turn up to vote.
‘More people did so than last year and a lot more than three or four years ago, but it will never have the same response as a general election because there is less publicity.’
The sitting douzeniers were elected for another term at St Peter’s yesterday.
Deputy David De Lisle topped the poll with 240 votes while Hugh Lenfestey was third with 156.
The other seat went to outgoing senior constable, Julian de G. Parker, who finished second with 168.
‘My son has been saying he hoped I didn’t win so we could spend more time together,’ said Mr de G. Parker.
‘I’ve told him that the workload of a douzenier is not quite as much as a constable.’
Gillian Lenfestey was the unsuccessful candidate, polling 97 votes.
Deputy De Lisle vowed to continue working assiduously on a full-time basis for the parish and thanked people for their support.
The 295 votes cast from an electorate of 1,500 represented a 19.6% turnout.
The returning officer, Paul Domaille, said the turnout had been reasonable.
‘It was almost 20%, which is pretty good. ‘That’s almost half the number that voted in the general election,’ he said.
Article posted on 20th November, 2008 - 2.29pm
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