Trevor Pitman to stand?

[Jason the Maverick]

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/08/16/deputys-husband-to-fight-campaign-ban/

A States employee who intends to stand for election this year is to mount a legal challenge to fight a decision to stop him using paid holiday time to campaign for office.

Senior youth worker Trevor Pitman, the husband of St Helier Deputy Shona Pitman, is angry that he has been told he has to take unpaid leave to run his campaign.

And he fears he will not be able to afford to stand if he does not receive wages for the time he would be off work.

He said that he faced taking out a bank loan to pay the mortgage and meet his living expenses if he does decide to be a candidate. As a result, the Jersey Democratic Alliance member has consulted a lawyer as he believes that the decision by States human resources is unfair.

I have said this before in that I do not think the JDA have enough support in general to make any change.  Much of what they have done by the people in office over the past 3 years has really been more destructive than constructive.  But what do you think?

[Chief Minister]

He is having a laugh, more uneducated JDA rubbish.

[Fritz]

I think the guy should be allowed to do whatever he wants in his holidays.

If he wants to go and fly kites, make sand sculptures, whatever, it should have no bearing on his earned salary. If he chooses to run an election campaign during his holidays, what,s the problem?

[Terminator 4]

Being paid a States salary for trying to get into the states?

[Jason the Maverick]

 

[Eastern correspondent]

The JEP will demonise TP just like they have Geoff Southern, they will also deride any political party that attempts to get into power, that is the culture of the paper, indeed the Jesey media

It is unfortunate that we do not have any media in the island - other than blog sites - that challenge the status quo.

Good luck to Mr Pitman but I won't be placing any bet on him being succesful, he has already got off on the wrong foot, however he can still turn this round.

He either can or cannot take unpaid leave - who decides?

If he was perceived or portrayed as a more middle of the road candidate ( AS OPPOSED TO JDA MEMBER ) would he be encountering this opposition.

I do not think so!

Finally a tip for Mr Pitman - if you have a flat cap - don't wear it!

Remember how the JEP demonised  Geoff Southern by portraying him in a  Hitler  like stance and flat cap!

[Jersey Spud]

He said that he faced taking out a bank loan to pay the mortgage

Not a great indication of how the JDA would solve the Island's financial concerns.

[Jason the Maverick]

LOL.

EC how come Southern has been 'demonised' by the local rag?

I don't ever recall reading anything strongly against him in the rag.

[Tory Boy]

Not a great indication of how the JDA would solve the Island's financial concerns.

They do not have a clue mate.  They just want you to vote for them because they need a job.  Lets hope better people with more intelligent manifestos come forward soon.

[Eastern correspondent]

Geoff Southern in flat cap and Hitler like stance was a feature of JEP's coverage in the last elections, his wife fomally complained to JEP!

[Tory Boy]

Hitler was a Socialist.

[Voltaire]

And he fears he will not be able to afford to stand if he does not receive wages for the time he would be off work.

He said that he faced taking out a bank loan to pay the mortgage and meet his living expenses if he does decide to be a candidate. As a result, the Jersey Democratic Alliance member has consulted a lawyer as he believes that the decision by States human resources is unfair.

his wife earns over £40K, does this guy earn so much as a youth worker that not being paid for a week to 10 days will cripple the family? how come other people can manage running in the evenings and weekends without taking holidays off? How can this socialist that came back to the island not that long ago afford a house? what will they do if his wife looses her election?

[Conductor]

Good spot.  It just shows the family is only going for the states because they need the money. 

[Voltaire]

Good spot.  It just shows the family is only going for the states because they need the money. 

Personally I believe they want to be earning 80-90k a year but pretend to be the hard done to poor that they represent. Not that they would actually acccept living like one of the great unwashed god forbid...

I believe Janus was also one of these (google it) and not the god part...

[Pomme de terre]

I noticed from Trevor Pitman's letter that he lives in St John (presumably with his wife).

Shona Pitman seems to have conflicting addresses in the phone book (a St Helier address, plus a "residence number", presumably in St John).

Dunno about you, but I expect my town deputy to live in the parish, not take the money and run off to a country parish.