Simon is 35 years old, and was first elected to Blackpool Council in 2003, at the age of 28.
He represented the Bloomfield Ward from 2003-2007, and was elected to represent Brunswick on May 3rd 2007.
Simon is the Chief Whip of the Labour Group, and is Chairman of the Council's Audit Committee - which scrutinises the way in which the Council spend our money! Simon also serves, along with the Labour Leader, Cllr Ivan Taylor, on the Council's Policy, Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee. Simon also represents the Council as a Director (unpaid!) of Blackpool Coastal Housing, he again serves as Chairman of it's Finance and Audit Committee, as well as Chairing the Remuneration Committee.
Simon is a Labour member of the Local Government Association's Scrutiny Panel, and Blackpool's representative on the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Commission. He is also Chair of the Gateway Area Panel (serving the residents of Talbot, Brunswick and Claremont wards). Simon has also recently been appointed a member of the Council's Tourism and Regeneration Committee, and is a longstanding member of the Licensing Committee.
In a personal capacity, Simon is a Trustee of Blackpool Boys and Girls Club on Laycock Gate, a member of CND, UNITE the union, and the British Association of Social Workers.
Simon lives with his partner, Gillian, and their three children, Xavier (11), Regan (6) and Skye (1). Having previously worked for a Blackpool charity, supporting homeless young people, Simon is now studying for an MA in Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire - he hopes to graduate in July 2010, and take up a job as a Child Protection Social Worker.
(The photograph above shows Simon in conversation with Herr Bürgermeister Klaus Strehl, of the German SPD party, on a 2005 visit to Blackpool's twin town of Bottrop, as a guest of the people of Bottrop.)