Geoff Southern
| Geoffrey Peter Southern | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Deputy | |
|
In office Nov 2008 – Oct 2014 |
|
| Constituency | St Helier District 2 |
| Majority | 665 |
| Deputy | |
|
In office Nov 2005 – 2008 |
|
| Constituency | St Helier District 2 |
| Majority | 547 |
| Deputy | |
|
In office Nov 2002 – 2005 |
|
| Constituency | St Helier District 2 |
| Majority | 609 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Manchester, England |
| Political party | Reform Jersey since 2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Southern |
| Children | Two |
| Residence | St Helier |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Website | http://www.geoffsouthern.com/ |
Geoff Southern is a Jersey politician, and former teacher. He has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since winning a by-election, on 15 February 2002, and has chaired two scrutiny panels.
Southern was born in Manchester. He graduated from the University of Surrey with a BSc (Hons) Metallurgy and French and had a career as a school teacher at Hautlieu School Jersey and as a homeless support worker. He is a former president of the Jersey branch of the National Union of Teachers. He is a fan of the American singer-songwriter Tom Waits.
Southern is one of the founder members of Jersey's only political party, inaugurated to the States of Jersey on 4 July 2014, Reform Jersey. Reform Jersey was originally set up in 2012 to campaign for reforms to Jersey's democratic system. In 2014, following the election to the States of Jersey of Reform Jersey's chairman Sam Mezec, and founding member Nick Le Cornu, the group decided to reconstitute as a political party, in order to campaign for wider principles of social and economic justice. The party focuses on social justice for all, 'regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or social background'.
In the 2008-2011 States assembly, Southern was chairman of the Health, Social Security and Housing scrutiny panel, leading reviews on income support delivery of service, social housing waiting lists, reviews of benefit levels and the airport and harbours sub-panel.
Previously, Southern was chairman of the Economic Affairs scrutiny panel and the telecoms privatisation sub-panel and a member of the migration policy scrutiny sub-panel.
He serves on the executive committee of the Jersey branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie.
Southern's first ran for the States of Jersey in the elections for six vacant seats as Senator in October 1996 polling 13th and last with 1,429 votes, then for Deputy in St Helier District No. 3 & 4 in November 1996 polling 7th of 7 with 241 votes. Southern ran again in the October 2005 elections for six vacant seats as Senator; he received 4,724 votes, finishing 13th of the 15 candidates.
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Wikipedia