14 Facts About Geoff Southern

Geoff Southern has been a deputy in the States of Jersey since winning a by-election, on 15 February 2002, and has chaired two scrutiny panels.

Geoff Southern graduated from the University of Surrey with a BSc Metallurgy and French and had a career as a school teacher at Hautlieu School Jersey and as a homeless support worker.

Geoff Southern is a former president of the Jersey branch of the National Union of Teachers.

Geoff Southern is a fan of the American singer-songwriter Tom Waits.

Previously, Geoff 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.

Geoff Southern serves on the executive committee of the Jersey branch of the Assemblee parlementaire de la Francophonie.

Geoff 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.

Geoff Southern was first elected to the States of Jersey as Deputy of Saint Helier No 2 district in a by election on 15 February 2002 and was re-elected in November 2002,2005,2008,2011,2014, and 2018.

In June 2010, Geoff Southern stood in a by-election for a vacant senatorial seat caused by Stuart Syvret's six-month absence from the island, finishing fifth out of nine candidates.

In October 2011, Geoff Southern was successful in retaining his seat as Deputy for the St Helier No 2 district.

In 2005, Geoff Southern was a founding member of the Jersey Democratic Alliance and upon the retirement of Chairman Rev Tony Keogh he was elected to the leadership of that party.

Geoff Southern's election fomented the split in the party which led to the formation of the short-lived Centre Party.

Geoff Southern was one of two JDA candidates in the 2005 Senatorial elections but neither was unsuccessful.

Geoff Southern ran in the Deputy elections the following month as an independent and retained his seat.