Steve Hynd
Steve has been a district councillor for The Stanleys since May 2021 and has served as Deputy Leader of The Green Group. During his first term he has served on four different committees: Housing, Environment, Community Services & Licensing, and Strategy & Resources.
Among his achievements as a councillor Steve lists voting through the £180million budget to make council houses warmer and cheaper to run, as well as seconding an additional £250,000 for the council’s active travel fund.
In his ward, he has helped dozens of residents with problems, including supporting a local resident who had got no help to stop her house from flooding. He has also worked with officers to protect Selsley Common and crucially, helped to get endless potholes fixed and hedges cut back.
If re-elected Steve will campaign for improved rural bus services, more affordable housing and a land management plan for Selsley Common. He intends to help the council bring all the council housing stock up to the highest possible standard.
Steve worked for more than five years as the Policy and Media Manager for City to Sea, a not-for-profit environmental organisation that works to stop plastic pollution. He has recently started working for The Green Party as its national Media Manager.
In addition, Steve is a founding director – alongside George Monbiot and Georgia Elliott-Smith – of the environmental group Fighting Dirty, which brings climate litigation against regulators. The first case sought to restrict toxic chemicals and microplastics being spread onto agricultural land through untested sewage sludge.
His previous political roles have included working in the European Institutions as first a human rights lobbyist and then for a MEP, in parliament as a staff member for a MP and as the Head of the Mayor’s Office on Bristol City Council.
Steve has spent much of his life in Gloucestershire and moved back to Stroud permanently in 2019. He lives in Selsley West with his wife and two young sons. He loves Stroud District for its sense of community, the beer of Stroud Brewery and the beautiful scenery, especially Selsley Common and Penn Woods.
His main wish for the future of the UK is for high-quality housing provision, an efficient climate mitigation strategy and an end to poverty. He aspires to see everyone made happy and healthy through good sports provision, active travel and access to green space.
Steve would like to see Stroud leading a reduction/reuse revolution that would reduce the amount of waste being incinerated and sent to landfill.
He has a 2:1 BSc degree in Social Policy from the University of Bath and a distinction in his MA in Human Rights from the University of Sussex. He is also a qualified journalist, holding a diploma (distinction) from The London School of Journalism.
In his spare time, Steve enjoys mountaineering, climbing and other outdoor pursuits.
marisa godfrey
Marisa is a director of a Stroud-based education awarding organisation and has an extensive background in education, counselling and community learning.
Though this is the first time she has stood for election, Marisa has long had a keen interest in politics. She has a BA Hons degree in Government & Politics from the University of Norwich, and an MA in Cultural Politics.
She believes her personal skills make her well suited to the role of councillor. “I’m organised and used to using my initiative to solve problems. I’m pragmatic and able to look at the bigger picture, taking into account other people’s perspectives,” she says. “I have worked with extremely diverse groups of people whilst managing projects that required me to juggle competing interests yet help make effective, timely decisions. I form positive working relationships with people and can maintain a sense of humour in stressful situations.”
“Being new to local politics I don’t have preconceived ideas about the role of councillor, but I like learning, listening and talking to people and would like to use my role to help local people resolve issues that may be causing them distress or inconvenience.
“I believe all these skills will enable me to be an effective councillor for my area and for the council at large.”
At a local level, she would like to see more youth services and places to for young people to go and looks forward to helping the council allocate resources effectively to those most in need.
On a global scale, Marisa dreams of more gender, social, economic, cultural and race equality. “As a Green candidate the environment is obviously fundamental, but I believe that environmental justice and social justice are intrinsically linked,” she says. “If there were fewer white men running the world, people and planet would all be better off.”
Marisa has lived in Stroud District since 2010 and loves the area for its rich culture, independent spirit, environmental beauty – and the farmers’ market!
In her spare time Marisa enjoys cooking, reading, watching films, gardening, walking and going to art exhibitions. She is interested in fashion, history (particularly female history) and graphic design.