Deputy Southern admits breaking electoral law

[danrok]

Story here:
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline/displayarticle.asp?id=387776

He admits to helping elderly and disabled persons to fill in postal voting electoral registration forms, on the grounds that they wanted assistance.  This being illegal.

Shona Pitman will probably be up next...

[boatyboy]

Thanks to danrock who researched and started this thread,

Is this the way left wing politicians advice their trade union connections and constituents. Not happy break the law I do.

Nobody  is above the law especially a man trusted with making them ………RESIGN.

In case you have not seen the ignorance for yourself, from danrocks link
 quote from Channelonline.

A Jersey politician has admitted breaking the island's election law. Deputy Geoff Southern says he expects to be charged by police this afternoon. He thinks he could face a fine of up to £2000.

In the last elections Deputy Southern helped voters fill in forms to allow them to vote by post but maintains he didn't tell them who to vote for.

He said he simply made sure they could vote without going to the polls, he says he has no regrets and would do it again.

http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline/displayarticle.asp?id=387776

BB

[danrok]

Surely, people who are infirm in some way, have carers who could help them to fill in forms?

What do they do about all the other paperwork they deal with in day-to-day life?  Does Geoff Southern pop round and help them fill these forms in?

Why could it not be arranged for a couple of independent people to visit, 30 or 40 people, to help them with this?  I can't see the justification for a candidate to taken on that role.

[stoofa]

I have a hard time believing that he was filling in forms for people that weren't voting for him under these circumstances. You may not be telling them who to vote for, but its as good as implied by you standing there doing the pen work.

If it was innocent, it falls in to the realm of the mind-blowingly stupid.

Either way it doesn't exactly make for a fine ministerial CV.

[rico sorda]

Deputy Southern & Deputy pitman...

LOL you bad ass law breaking election twisting jda pants swinging politicians.. Form filling for the infirm & elderly thats as  bad as it gets  guys...

LOL what chance of getting some child abusers down the old cop shop..

rs

[boatyboy]

Posted here with the full permission of Rod Bryans,  (CTV blogg )

Broken laws.
Posted By: Rod Bryans on 05-Feb-2009

This act of two JDA members brings into question the probity and ethics of these individuals, and the party they belong to. Deputy Southerns spin is both fatuous and transparent. Political skullduggery of the highest order. He denounced the law. He broke the law and he declares he will carry on doing so.Shona Pitman has done the same.

It has little or nothing to do with human rights. What about the rights of the electorate to have a fair and honest election or the rights of fellow candidates to a level playing field? He has simply abused his position and targeted vulnerable members of society to gain his own ends. There is little room for ambiguity. Politicians are law makers not lawbreakers.

By his blatant refusals to comply with the States laws he is making a mockery of the political process and would lead people to believe we live in a Banana Republic. The honest and correct step would be for both of them to resign their positions or for the election to be declared null and void. But I sincerely doubt either would have the courage of their convictions.

Rod Bryans.

[Pomme de terre]

I concur entirely with Rod Bryans.

Lawbreakers should not be lawmakers. It incenses me that these people vote on issues that affect my daily life, yet disregard such laws when it suits them.

[rico sorda]

Its all beyond a joke on this island at the moment it really is what's next i give up ....  They should resign

rs

[danrok]

It seems the original story has been updated, and it was electoral registration forms, rather than postal voting forms, which they were assisting with.  The filling-in, and delivery of those forms.

[rico sorda]

So it was the electoral registration forms 

The more people who vote and all that..  From all the fuss today i thought it was the voting form bloody hell what a load of p***

rs


Language please

Thanks


Mod 4

[danrok]

The Rag still have it down as postal voting forms, but they tend to lag behind anyhow.

If it was just registration forms, then at least it is not as sinister, although still illegal.

[Adrian Walsh]

As one of the candidates in St Helier No 2 I can confirm that I knocked on a number of doors where I was advised by a number of people that they had already voted, by post. A couple said that they would have possibly voted for me after reading my leaflet, and one I remember in particular said "the man that came round with the forms only mentioned himself and two other ladies, I didn't even know you where running".

Needless to say, with around 80 postal votes processed (much higher than any other district). Had this been fair and we didn't have political hopefuls possibly influencing the votes, I believe Rod Bryant should have been democratically elected last year as he missed the position by only 32 votes.

Shona Pitman and Geoff Southern should resign over such an incident (after all they requested the resignation of the bailiff just for a speech and that wasn't criminal, this is). I know that they won't do it because underneath they are in this for their own means and don't give a hoot about anyone else. St Helier No 2 is seen as an "easy" pitch for them, but as we saw for the previous three years, they do nothing for the district they are elected to, it is just a door to get into the big house. I met Rod and Sue who were standing for deputy at the same time, and they are both, as I am, passionate about doing something for No2 district and working for the benefit of the people in it. If Southern and Pitman where as honest and democratic as they profess, they would resign, and Rod and Sue should be offered the places instead (as the next in line to the throne as it where) even though I believe Rod was undemocratically cheated from the position last year.

A £2,000 fine each is nothing out of the quarter of a million pounds plus they will earn between them in the next three years. Not forgetting it will probably be paid out of the "confirmed" £27,805 from the Rowntree Trust which was given to pay for election expenses for the Senatorial and Deputy elections and encourage true democracy. I wonder, do the Rowntree Trust know the type of democracy being employed by the JDA

what happens in other countries when politicians break the law to get themselves elected? have a look at the links below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/02/thailand-protests-somchai-wongsawat

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/thai-court-disbands-ruling-party-1047611.html

[Cousinbenson]

My views (have sent to the JEP)


To read that the consequences of Geoff Southern's actions may result in a fine of £2,000 is sickening for the electorate.  Mr Southern has clearly broken the law, yet for his actions he will face a fine which will be paid by the tax payer from Mr Southern's government salary.

For a crime of this nature immediate removal from the States assembly is required at the very least in order to show democracy to the electorate.

It seems apparent that Mr Southern should be reminded that he is subject to the same laws within society as his electorates, including laws that he does not agree with as in this case.

For a politician constantly promoting democracy I ask where was the democratic consideration in his actions regarding the postal vote actions.  From my perspective Mr Southern showed no sense of democracy towards the other candidates within his district and also the electorate whom he now represents.

[danrok]

Just the mention of Rowntree Trust / Rowntree confectioners sends a shudder down my spine, having had dealings with this bunch in the past.  Avoid like the plague!

Bunch of shysters!

[cyrillem]

It is time for them to leave I think, I am in need of another election I feel!!!