After nearly five years as town crier E. Michael Jones is giving his lungs a rest for next week's mayoral challenge.

His decision follows a last-minute change of rules that meant him giving up his $35,000 a year post of town crier if elected mayor.

"I have had my time as town crier and it is time for me to move on," said Mr. Jones. "I ask that the voters please vote for me as mayor and to not think of me as the town crier anymore - I would have liked to do both, but I can't."

Two other candidates in the race for Mayor of the Corporation of St. George's are alderman Mariea C. Caisey and Clarence Ross Smith, who was an alderman.

Candidates for alderman this year include incumbent aldermen Louis R. DeSilva and United Bermuda Party Senator Kenneth Bascome; and incumbent councillors Edward E. Benevides and Beau Evans.

Five of the six running for common councillor are newcomers. They are: Nicholas Duffy, Sonia Whayman, Stephen Hollis, Jill Raine and Clarence E Minors. William D. Davis is currently a councillor.

Mr. Jones, who also spent nine years as a senior councillor for the corporation, lost the mayoral elections to incumbent mayor Henry Hayward three years ago.

"If I become mayor, I am not going to disappear, I will be all over the place, I am still going to be the person around town."

Common councillor nominee Nicholas (Nick) Duffy believes that jobs can be created in St. George's by re-opening the two hotels in the East End and really promoting St. George's as a World Heritage Site.

Mr. Duffy, who is also a St. George's businessman, said that St. George's was a premier destination, which should be given pride of place because it has everything a visitor would want in a small place.

Nominee and incumbent alderman Louis (Red) DeSilva has been with the corporation for the past nine years.

He said he was more of a residents' representative and lobbied for the rights of St. George's inhabitants over such issues as tourism.

Outgoing mayor Mr. Hayward said he hoped that the new mayor would continue with the current work of the corporation and lobby Government for more funding for the town.