Alderney votes in new States Members

Monday 03 December 2018

The States of Alderney has three new recruits and two familiar faces returning to its ranks next year after the weekend's election.

Newcomers Annie Burgess and Chris Harris topped the polls with 665 and 664 votes respectively.

Next came sitting States Member and air links campaigner Steve Roberts, with 658 votes and former Army officer and Alderney Rep to the States of Guernsey Graham McKinley, with 445 votes. 

Former BBC reporter David Earl was the fifth nominee to gain a seat with 435 votes. 

Twelve candidates stood for election this year and the diversity of nominees meant a record number of people made sure they were registered to vote. 

Ms Burgess, who works for Alderney Shipping, and local man Chris Harris were strongly in the lead from the start of the count, which took place at the Island Hall. 

Ms Burgess was off Island for the evening, but Mr Harris, 40, entered the hall to hear the results. He said he was “overwhelmed” at the volume of support he had encountered. 

“As a younger person on the States I hope I can encourage a whole different demographic on the Island to feel they have someone they can talk to, and who they believe might be able to deal with issues they may be facing.

“Ultimately the priority is to improve Alderney and I look forward to seeing what the States of Alderney might throw at me.”

Steve Roberts, a former Aurigny worker, who has already served on the States for nearly six years, said his next ambition was to become Alderney Representative to the Guernsey States of Deliberation. 

“I’m a returning States member and it’s always difficult to come back. But my vote has gone up from 360 at the last election to 600 so I must be doing something right,” he said.  “Now I want to carry Alderney’s case to Guernsey and represent the island I love in a better way than it has been done before.”

He vowed to continue with his battle for better transport links. 

“I want to have more destinations, and I want to make the island more accessible and cheaper to get to. That in turn will build our economy. We are getting there but for me it’s unfinished business.”

Turn out, which traditionally is high in Alderney, was 66 per cent of those eligible to vote. The figure usually stands at between 65 and 70 per cent. 

Returning Officer and States of Alderney Chief Executive Andrew Shuter, said the number of people who had registered to vote had reached “almost record levels” this year with an influx of younger people filling out forms to enable them to vote, at the last minute. 

A by election and the plebiscite, the public vote which traditionally selects which politician will represent the Island in the States of Deliberation, will be held on December 17.

Pictured: The results were read out on Saturday night after a busy day of voting in Alderney.