John Paul Jenkins - Political Career

Political Career

Jenkins was elected at the local elections on 10 June 2004. As of 2006, he is the youngest elected representative in Carmarthenshire.

Before becoming a councillor, Jenkins was chosen by the Conservative Party in 2002 to be its candidate for the Llanelli constituency at the 2003 election to the National Assembly for Wales. However, in March 2003, just two months before polling day, Jenkins was reported to have made homophobic remarks on an internet forum. The story was first reported in the Western Mail and subsequently on the BBC Wales news.

Jenkins withdrew his candidacy although he claimed that his remarks had been taken out of context and that, "a lot of selective editing was carried out somewhere between my actual comments being made and the reporting of my remarks in the Western Mail and subsequently the BBC."

Later in 2003, Jenkins started his campaign for election to Carmarthenshire County Council. Running with the slogan "Standing up for Llanelli" Jenkins won election to Carmarthenshire County Council and Llanelli Town Council in 2004.

As of 2006, he serves on Carmarthenshire County Council's Planning Committee and Social Justice Scrutiny Committee, ironically the latter being the committee that scrutinises the Council’s equal opportunity policies. He is also a Carmarthenshire Local Education Authority appointed governor of Bryngwyn Comprehensive School in Dafen, Llanelli. He also serves on Llanelli Town Council's Selwyn Samuel Management Committee and is a Minor Authority appointed governor of Old Road County Primary School in Llanelli.

Read more about this topic:  John Paul Jenkins

Famous quotes containing the words political and/or career:

    What are all political and social institutions, but always a religion, which in realizing itself, becomes incarnate in the world?
    Edgar Quinet (1803–1875)

    They want to play at being mothers. So let them. Expressing tenderness in their own way will not prevent girls from enjoying a successful career in the future; indeed, the ability to nurture is as valuable a skill in the workplace as the ability to lead.
    Anne Roiphe (20th century)