The first single Member of Parliament for St. David's (constituency number 3) will be a newcomer to the political scene. He or she will not be an unknown, however, since both candidates have strong public profiles, in different fields.

Danvers (Danny) Seymour is the Progressive Labour Party candidate. Suzann Roberts Holshouser carries the flag for the United Bermuda Party. Mr. Seymour made his name as a soccer player and coach and is a teacher at Prospect Primary School; Ms Roberts Holshouser works at Bacardi Ltd. and is ZBM's weather person, seen on that station's nightly news broadcast. Of the two, she is the more confident of winning on July 24.

St. David's is the most individual of all the Bermuda constituencies. Mr. Seymour sometimes refers to it jokingly as "the Parish of St. David's". For a long time physically cut off from the rest of Bermuda, residents of St. David's now maintain a certain psychological distance instead.

A total of 1,112 voters are registered in the constituency. Their homes include well-maintained, large houses that dot the landscape, newly-renovated officers' homes on what was the US base at Southside, and a mix of average and superior housing. The population of the constituency is increasing as residents from elsewhere move as far as they can from the madding crowd.

Several of those voters who spoke to The Royal Gazette said they would not vote. Some said they have never voted. Disillusionment in St. David's extends to almost every aspect of public life, the voters felt. Issues of relevance to St. David's that voters mentioned included local transport, the lack of facilities for young people and a consequent loss of direction, and the difficulties ordinary people face in making ends meet.

Of his decision to enter the world of politics, Mr. Seymour says: "The Lord led me to enter the political arena. Although I have arrived a little late on the political scene, we are being very well received by the people of St. David's."

If elected, Mr. Seymour would endorse and champion community efforts toward the creation of a youth centre already under discussion.

He believes that the primary concern of a politician should be the truth.

"I would like for people to regard Brother Danny, as I am known, as a teller of the truth," he said. "My history, even in regard to soccer and teaching, is to get things done."

Ms Roberts Holshouser's entry into politics was more prosaic. "I contacted Michael Dunkley and asked: 'What can I do? How can I help?' He put me in touch with Wayne Furbert," she said.

She believes that three equally important issues top the list for those in her constituency: crime, housing and the asbestos that awaits disposal, some of it in open containers, on the former Baselands.

"I'd like to see the asbestos report," Ms Roberts Holshouser said. "If we need to bury the stuff, let's do it."

She is for a more frequent and visible Police presence in St. David's, and better services for seniors.

"I believe passionately that our senior citizens, who have spent a lifetime serving Bermuda and the St. David's community, must be able to live their lives in dignity, without the need for charity handouts," she said.