Incumbent Glenn Blakeney, Minister of Youth, Families and Sports, will be challenged for this seat by first-time candidate Anthony Francis of the OBA.Mr Blakeney has held it since 2003 when he won against the late Hilary Soares with a 105 vote majority. But that majority was reduced significantly in 2007, to 57, when Albertha Waite took him on for the UBP.On paper, the redrawn Devonshire North Central could be a stronger district for the ruling party as it has 410 new voters taken from three other districts which the Progressive Labour Party has won by strong majorities over the last two elections. But it also lost 352 voters to district 14.Key landmarks include the public housing on Mary Victoria and Alexandra Road, CedarBridge Academy, and Mid Ocean Golf course. But the district also takes in parts of Palmetto Road from Dock Hill going East, and the more affluent areas of Watlington Lane and Loyal Hill.With a median household income of just $89,816, compared to $106,389 Island-wide, Devonshire North Central is not, on average, one of the more affluent constituencies. Only three other districts reported a lower median income when the national Census was taken two years ago.It also ranked ninth in the number of persons (98) who reported they were unemployed.Ninety-five of those qualified to vote in the coming election are not on the voters’ register according to the Parliamentary Registrar, making it the district with the fourth highest number of unregistered voters.In terms of educational attainment, 27 percent (266) of adult Bermudians (18 years and over) in the district reported that they had no formal academic qualifications, compared with the national average of 23 percent. A total of 349 (36 percent) reported a high school diploma as their highest academic qualification, compared to 31 percent Island-wide.Voters were reluctant to discuss their views so close to polling day, but the two candidates confirmed that the main issues for them were primarily national crime, education and the economy.“People’s concerns for the most part are managing the budget, the basic national problems, crime and people are talking about education as well,” Mr Blakeney told The Royal Gazette.Mr Blakeney claims that he has responded to many of the parochial issues raised by the residents there roads have been paved, massive boulders have been placed in the Mary Victoria Road area to prevent it being used as a thoroughfare by students on their way to CedarBridge Academy, and CCTV cameras have been installed to enhance security.But Mr Francis, who has had ample time to canvass since quitting his post office job to enter this year’s political contest, says that some in the Loyal Hill area are concerned about their roads being paved.And, he says, he has been hearing complaints about being neglected by the area MP.Still, many are concerned about unemployment and education.“The people I’m meeting in the district have been formally educated but focused on the economy and unemployment,” he said. “The challenge is, ‘why can’t I get a job’.”Others are also concerned about the quality of the education system, he added.“I’ve been telling them the quality of our education should not be dependent on the income of the parents. I believe the public education system can be the education system of choice.”The OBA has advocated introducing technical education to students at an earlier age something that he says is resonating with the voters of Devonshire North Central, many of whom remember the old Bermuda Technical Institute.“They know that technical education is a miss in Bermuda.”One gets the impression that Mr Francis has covered much more of the district than the incumbent. Mr Blakeney admitted that with his ministerial and family responsibilities, his biggest challenge is time.“I haven’t had any challenges on the doorstep. My challenge is time and strategically approaching how I get to everybody,” the Minister said. “In my Ministry there’s very seldom a week that goes by that I am not invited to a minimum of two events.”