Senate election details show Gibbs and Damaseau alone in runoff

Further details of Daniel Gibbs’ election to the French Senate show that Valérie Damaseau led the first round with 11 votes, ahead of Gibbs on six. Raphaël Sanchez received four votes, outgoing senator Annick Pétrus received three, Bernadette Venthou-Dumaine received one and Tristan Choppin Haudry de Janvry received none. No candidate reached the 13 votes needed for election.

Only Damaseau and Gibbs entered the afternoon runoff. Gibbs added seven votes between the rounds, while Damaseau retained her first-round total of 11 votes.

Pétrus, who did not run again, said she voted for Gibbs in the second round because she considered he could represent Saint-Martin’s interests effectively in the Senate. She also said she was leaving the RSM-A group, Rassemblement saint-martinois Alternative, because trust was no longer present. After six years as senator, she said she wanted to hand over files on health, education, the cost of living and institutional matters to her successor.

Gibbs said his priorities include the budget, health and education, and said he wanted to maintain close contact with territorial elected representatives on local issues. He takes office on 1 October for a six-year term. Marie-Dominique Ramphort will serve as his alternate.

The RSM-A group has also seen Bernadette Venthou-Dumaine and Raphaël Sanchez run separately for the Senate seat. Martine Beldor and Valérie Fonrose have also left the group.