As the Country faces its first by-election under the new electoral system, at least one ruling party candidate is confident that her party?s democracy is improving in leaps and bounds.

?The organisational politics is just maturing,? said candidate for district 36 Eugenie Simmons.

?As we encounter experiences and issues that need to be addressed, we address them in a healthy manner. Given that this is the second term for the government it is inevitable that we would see this level of maturity and this type of growth and we can only assume that we will become more refined.?

She said the ?healthy? competition for the Sandys North candidacy meant that people felt safe to express themselves to the party.

?This can only be good for the branch because what it does do is broaden the democratic process. The branch is being presented with options ? they have a talented pool of individuals and some clear choices they can make. I suspect this is the case going forward for all constituencies ? while we will continue to have strongholds, there will be no such thing as a safe seat.

?People who represent a constituency and all who seek to represent will be required to work and this can only be healthy for the party, the government and the people of Bermuda ? because we will start to pick the best and the brightest as opposed to who happens to be in a position to run.?

Candidate selection has in the past often been criticised as a murky affair with final decisions being too heavily influenced by the party Leader.

But with Alex Scott?s ascension to the leadership and a radical overhaul of the branches, the party is well on the way to making sure that nepotism is a thing of the past.

Mr. Scott, insiders say, has taken a hands off approach to internal politicking, preferring to do what he can to encourage greater participation.

?One of the things that is positive is that the process is clear, it?s democratic, its open and transparent,? Mrs. Simmons continued. ?It?s indicative of an openness and fairness of the PLP hierarchy and administration.?

Ms Simmons is one of about eight people within the ranks of the ruling party interested in representing Sandys North.

Others are former Sen. David Burch, Dawn Simmons, Ellen-Kate Horton, Government Senate Leader Michael Scott, Nelda Simons and Melvin Simmons.

Branches have considerable flexibility when it comes to nominating a candidate, but the high interest in the Sandys North by-election almost certainly means that the branch will have to call a vote.

Once a branch decides, it sends its nomination to the candidates selection committee which in turn makes a recommendation to the Central Committee.

Yesterday, Dawn Simmons, a former Sandys branch chairman, agreed that the selection process, so far, had been ?clear, open and straightforward?.

She said changes at the top had brought a ?sense of excitement?.?I definitely sense an excitement within the party of people wanting to be a part, wanting to be involved,? she said.