Regional Lists

'It is an honour to be elected to serve the people of Scotland, and a very special pleasure to be paid to do what I really want to do.' Robin Harper MSP, 1st May 2003.

Lothians Region

Scottish Green Party candidates

	1. Robin Harper MSP
	Scottish Green Party
	Robin Harper was born on the 4 th August 1940 in Thurso and educated at St Marylebone Grammar School in London and Elgin Academy in Morayshire. Mr Harper went on to Aberdeen University where he achieved MA in 1962 and Heriot-Watt University where he was awarded Diploma in Guidance and Cirriculum in 1992. He also has Article 39 History and Primary Teaching Certificate (Aberdeen, 1964). During the course of his teaching career, Mr Harper taught in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Kenya, Midlothian and Edinburgh, covering a wide range of subjects including, English, history, science, drama and modern studies. From 1972 to 1999 he taught modern studies at Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh. He has also been a musician and guitar teacher for Fife and Edinburgh local authorities. He is Rector of Aberdeen University, having previously served as Rector of Edinburgh University between 2000 and 2003. Mr Harper is a former music director of Edinburgh Children's Theatre Workshop. He is married and is a member of the EIS and Equity. Party positions 1999 - 2003 Party leader 2003 - Co-convenor 2003 - Green Spokesperson on Education & Young People and Sport Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on Greens' Lothian list, 31,908 votes (12.01 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, First on Greens' Lothian list, 22,848 votes (6.91 %) (elected) 1998 European by-election, North East Scotland, 2,067 votes (1.73 %) 1997 Westminster election, Edinburgh Pentlands, 224 votes (0.49 %) 1992 Westminster election, Edinburgh Central, 630 votes (1.61 %)
	2. Mark Ballard MSP
	Scottish Green Party
	Mark Ballard was born on the 27 th June 1971 in Leeds in England and moved to India and Pakistan where his mother was a woman's healthcare researcher. He was educated at Lawnswood Comprehensive School in Leeds and Edinburgh University where he graduated with an MA (Hons) in Economic & Social History. From 1994 until 1998 he worked in various positions for European Youth Forest Action in Edinburgh and Amsterdam. From 1998 until 2001 he was the editor of Reforesting Scotland Journal, and from 2002 until his election in 2003 as the 6 th Lothians MSP, he established and ran an environmental communications consultancy company. In the parliament he is the Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Groups on Dyslexia, the Scottish Economy andÊDeputy Convener of the Cross-Party Groups on Animal Welfare and on Lupus. He has also worked hard to support local campaigns such as the successful campaign against a supermarket in Portobello. He is married with a son and is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers). In February 2006 he was elected as Rector of Edinburgh University, beating Boris Johnson, Magnus Linklater and John Pilger. Party Positions 2003 - Green Spokesperson on Finance, Local Government, Public Services and Transport Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Second on Greens' Lothian list, 31,908 votes (12.01 %) (elected) 2001 City of Edinburgh Council by-election, Broughton, 80 votes (5.38 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Fifth on Greens' Lothian list, 22,848 votes (6.91 %) 1994 Lothian Region Council election, Merchiston/Morningside, 142 votes (2.10 %)
	3. Ruth Cameron
	Scottish Green Party
	Ruth was born on the Isle of Harris but now lives in Edinburgh with her partner. Ruth Cameron is 23 year old and the co-ordinator of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition. She was President of the Edinburgh University Students' Association from 2005-2006 and was editor of both the University's Student newspaper and the Students' Association magazine. After Boris Johnson was beaten by Mark Ballard in a bitter fight for the post of Rector of Edinburgh University, the latter's supporters called for Cameron's resignation for backing Mark Ballard and allegedly instigating an "Anyone but Boris" campaign. In Student Newspaper she was sarcastically referred to by Johnson supporters as "Our Glorious Leader". She was recently chosen from 1500 international candidates to be a WWF/Ben & Jerry's "climate change ambassador", and won a highly competitive Observer Internship as a result of her award winning period as editor of Edinburgh's student newspaper. She is convener of the Scottish Young Greens. Recent electoral experience
	4. Steve Burgess
	Scottish Green Party
	Recent electoral experience
	5. Danny Wight
	Scottish Green Party
	Recent electoral experience
	6. Stan Blackley
	Scottish Green Party
	Recent electoral experience
	7. Peter McColl
	Scottish Green Party
	Peter is Parliamentary Researcher for Mark Ballard MSP, and sits on the Edinburgh University Court as Rector's Assessor. He is a former Vice President Representation of the Edinburgh University Students' Association, and a founder member of Portobello Energy Decent and Land Reform Group. He sits on the editorial board of Scottish Left Review. Recent electoral experience
	8. Katherine Taylor
	Scottish Green Party
	Recent electoral experience
	9. Fiona Patterson
	Scottish Green Party
	Recent electoral experience