• Married with 2 children
• Honours graduate of Queen's University in psychology. Also holds a Masters degree and a professional diploma in Social Work
• Senior Practitioner in the “Adolescent Social Work team” based in James Street, Newtownards
• 13 years experience in local government with an outstanding record of constituency work and representation
• First elected to Craigavon Borough Council in 1997 and served as Mayor in 2002
• Elected to Newtownards Borough Council in 2005
• Experience as District Policing partnership Chairman where he took a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour
• An evangelical Christian and attends Newtownards Congregational Church
• Northern Ireland representative on the European Committee of the Regions
• Made Assembly Member for Strangford in January 2010
• Member of the Assembly Environment Committee and the newly formed Committee of Justice

SATELLITE SURGERIES:

1st Friday of the month - Portavogie Community Centre: 10.30am - 12noon

2nd Friday of the month - The Bridge Centre, Killyleagh: 10.30am - 12noon

3rd Friday of the month - Saintfield Orange Hall: 10.30am - 12noon