Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC election: Michael Mates defeated
- Published
Michael Mates lost the election after second preference votes were counted
Independent Simon Hayes has beaten ex-Conservative minister Michael Mates to become Hampshire and Isle of Wight's new police and crime commissioner.
He won after second choice votes were counted as neither managed to get more than 50% of votes in the first round.
Ex-Tory Mr Hayes is a former chairman of Hampshire Police Authority.
Labour's Jacqui Rayment, UKIP's Stephen West, Liberal Democrat David Goodall and Don Jerrard from the Justice and Anti-Corruption party were eliminated.
Mr Mates won more votes in the first round with 52,616 to Mr Hayes' 47,632.
But when the second preferences of the defeated candidates were added Mr Hayes overturned the deficit to end with 80,669 to Mr Mates' 65,804.
'I am humbled'
Mr Hayes said: "I am humbled by this result and I'm grateful to the public of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the trust they have put in me.
"I will exercise this role not with any fear or favour and [while] considering the whole of the community... the rural or be it urban."
Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: "Hampshire is a successful forward-thinking force which has seen a significant reduction in crime levels across the two counties over the past five years.
"We look forward to working with Simon Hayes as the new commissioner."
Mr Mates was the Conservative MP for East Hampshire from 1974 to 2010.
During his post-declaration speech, he hit out at Mr Hayes who was previously a member of the Conservative Party.
He said: "I am a Conservative, I am proud to be a Conservative and I will never change my colours."
Mr Mates stepped down from John Major's government in 1993 over his links with fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir.
Mr Nadir was jailed for 10 years in August for stealing £28.8m from his Polly Peck empire in the 1980s.
Mr Hayes is the chairman of Crimestoppers Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
Simon Hayes outlined his priorities for when he takes up his new post
He was previously a Conservative district and county councillor and was leader of New Forest District Council.
In the first round, Ms Rayment won 38,813 votes, Mr Goodall 27,197 and Mr Jerrard 24,443.
Following verification of the votes, turnout was confirmed at 14.6%.
Gosport recorded the lowest turnout with 11.5% while Winchester saw the highest with 20.2%.
Defeated candidate Ms Rayment Tweeted: "So I came third, but it was a great campaign.
'We engaged'
"We engaged far and wide. Spoke to people everywhere .Thank you everyone."
The PCCs, which are set to replace police authorities, will set spending plans and have the power to "hire and fire" chief constables.
The government set up the commissioner role in an effort to make police more accountable, with a single "figurehead" monitoring and ensuring performance.
Ministers said the cost of commissioners and police and crime panels would be no greater than the cost of running existing police authorities.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC will be paid £85,000 per year.