Election of the Council
The next scheduled Parish Election is expected to be May 2009. All Gurnard’s Parish Councillors will be obliged to stand down then, though they do remain in office for 4 days after the election. The criteria that must be met by candidates is:
- 18 years of age or over
- British subject or citizen of the Irish Republic
- Local elector of the Parish of Gurnard or during the 12 month period prior to nomination has:
> Occupied land or premises as owner or tenant in the Parish or
> Resided in the Parish or within 3 miles thereof or
> Had his/her principal or only place of work in that area.
In past years Gurnard has satisfactorily filled all seats, and usually this has been the case due to exactly the right number of candidates coming forward. At the 2001 election, however, there were originally 10 candidates, which would have forced an election but one withdrew at the last moment. The 2005 election was extensively advertised in the Village but only 7 out of the 9 required nominations were forthcoming, which was disappointing. Since then the Parish Council successfully co-opted one additional Member in September 2005 and a 2nd in February 2006. Resignations were receieved from 3 Councillors in the Summer of 2006, and a by-election to fill the 3 seats was requested by residents. Only 2 nominations were received by the deadline for the 9/11/06 by-election, and so they were automatically elected on to the Council. The 3rd seat was subject of a 2nd by-election on 7th December 2006, and by the deadline of 10th November 2006 just the 1 nomination had been received so she was automatically elected onto the Council also. The Council was up to full strength with a 100% electoral mandate until 21st May 2007, when one resignation was received. The process of filling this seat commenced on 8th July 2007, with a by-election being scheduled for 23rd August 2007. This proved to be non-contested as there was only one applicant, who was then duly declared elected, and so the Parish Council returned to a 100% electoral mandate situation.
Casual vacancies, which are usually caused by either death or resignation, have always been filled by co-option until Summer 2006 due to the election criteria not being met locally, but have all been elected since then.
`