What if there’s a role that nobody wants?

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That’s the worst, and it happens surprisingly often. The trouble is, Committees need people on them, so roles have to be filled by hook or by crook. The further down the voting order you go, the more likely it is that unwanted roles will be filled by someone who was unsuccessful earlier on, as a kind of consolation prize.

I really strongly feel this way of populating Committees needs to be improved on. I’m not sure that there’s a system fix (although now I’m wondering if it would have been sensible to completely separate Principal Committee elections and other Committee elections, in the same way as P&R and Committee elections are separated). Instead, I think it relies on Deputies being willing to put themselves forward for unenjoyable roles from the outset (maybe you choose one role out of enthusiasm, and a second out of duty?), and also on coordinating with others so you know where the gaps are likely to be, and you’re prepared to put yourself forward to fill it.

No one person can do the work of the whole States. You are not obliged or expected to step forward whenever there’s an empty role. What you can do, though, is work with others beforehand to make sure there’s a core of competent people prepared to stand for each Committee, to minimise the risks that go with unwanted roles.

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What if I don’t get the role I want?

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First up, don’t despair. There are ways you can pursue your interest even if you’re not on the responsible Committee – requetes, amendments and parliamentary questions are all tools to check up on Committee progress, and even to make things happen, from the outside.

Also, think about whether you can be equally effective elsewhere. There are only 40 of you, and a lot of roles to fill – your talents are bound to be needed. If you spend the whole of the Committee Election period licking your wounds because you didn’t get the role you wanted, you’ll miss the chance to get a decent role elsewhere. Swallow your pride, put your ego on ice, and concentrate on finding a place to fit in. You can deal with the hurt afterwards – you’ve got to be pragmatic for now.

Remember, the P&R President and P&R Committee Members are elected first. Then all the other Presidents, in alphabetical order – first of all the Principal Committees, then Scrutiny, then the rest. And finally, the Committee Members, in the same order.

There is at least an overnight break between each of those four elections, so if you’ve been disappointed early on, you’ve got time to get in touch with people and line up your candidacy for something else. But if you’re disappointed during the Committee elections, and decide to seek a seat on a different Committee, you may honestly just have to turn to the people sat to your left and right, and ask “will you propose / second me?”, so you can quickly throw your hat in the ring.

Be as flexible and adaptable as you can be about your Committee preferences, because there will be so much change during the elections. If you’re certain that having a seat on a Committee is something you want out of this term, then try to have two or three options lined up – but make sure they’re not all the same intense level of work, in case you end up getting them all!

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How do I know who to choose for other roles?

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Get to know them, as much as you can in this short space of time. Get a sense of their track record, and also of their character. Is this someone who’s going to be in a position of particular responsibility, as a President? Will they be able to knit together a functional team, and manage disagreements without it all falling apart? Would you enjoy working for them yourself – or with them, if you’re both standing as ordinary Committee members? Are they competent and essentially decent?

Values matter, and there may be some issues that are red lines for you. It’s reasonable not to want a climate change denier on E&I, for example, when their ignorance could cost people on this Island their future. But if that kind of red line is not crossed, then don’t rule out someone for a role just because they’re very different to you – Committees are teams, and a diversity of views and experiences can enhance the way they work.

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