battlegrounds in the October 5 general election, The Royal Gazette today looks at Southampton West.

Despite 25 years of United Bermuda Party representation, some are describing Southampton West as "a new marginal'' as October 5 approaches.` The Progressive Labour Party believes the retirements of longtime MPs the Hon.

Ralph Marshall and Mr. Harry Viera have created a clean slate, and Southampton West is up for grabs.

At the very least, the outcome should help tell which mattered more to the constituency's voters -- party or personality.

Rather than use "plumping'' to try to elect Mr. Michael Scott as a lone candidate -- an unsuccessful strategy in 1989 -- the PLP added campaign co-chairman Mr. Terry Lister to the race at the last minute.

Mr. Scott and Mr. Lister are up against the UBP's Hon. Pamela Gordon, who ran in Pembroke East in 1989, and hotelier Mr. David Dodwell, making his first bid for elected office.

Mr. Matthew Lindo of the National Liberal Party is also in the race and could draw votes as the lone Portuguese candidate.

But Mr. Lindo, a businessman and former Police officer, said there were only about 250 Portuguese votes in Southampton West and he was counting on support from all quarters.

The constituency is a tough read. For a quarter-century, the only drama on election night was whether Mr. Viera or Mr. Marshall would top the polls. Each placed first three times since 1968, and the pair ran unopposed in 1985.

But the pair were often at odds with the UBP, and likely won support as individuals as much as for their party ties. Mr. Viera finally bolted to sit as an Independent after the 1989 vote.

To Mr. Lister, the Southampton West election will be a watershed similar to what happened in Sandys North in 1976.

That year, Mr. Eugene Cox left a safe seat in Sandys South to challenge Mr.

B.F. Galloway and Mr. J.C. Astwood in Sandys North. The UBP pair had held their seats comfortably since 1968, though not with the huge margins Mr.

Marshall and Mr. Viera were accustomed to in Southampton West.

Mr. Galloway and Mr. Astwood prevailed in a close race against Mr. Cox and Mr.

Ira Philip. But Mr. Galloway campaigned from a hospital bed where he was recovering from surgery, and died soon after the election.

Mr. Cox won the by-election and he and Mr. Lionel Simmons won the seats for the PLP in 1980 and 1983.

Pundits have questioned the wisdom of the PLP running two candidates in Southampton West, but to Mr. Lister it was "a stroke of genius on the campaign committee's part,'' to wait so long before announcing his candidacy.

"It created a false sense of security,'' he said.

Still, by his own estimate, Mr. Lister will be able to visit less than half the constituency's households by polling day.

Ms Gordon, the daughter of trade union founder Dr. E.F. Gordon, said she and Mr. Dodwell were concentrating on serving the constituents, and it made little difference to the UBP candidates whether the PLP ran one candidate or two.

Ms Gordon, who has been canvassing since winning a primary two years ago, said she and Mr. Dodwell have resolved problems related to Bermuda College enrolment, immigration, and vehicle traffic on the railway trail. They also got a crosswalk installed and helped with Port Royal Playground, she said.

"We're in it to show people that we'd like to represent them,'' she said.

"We try to satisfy their needs. Then, they can make a decision.'' Mr. Dodwell, named as a candidate in July after Mr. Marshall announced his retirement, is owner of The Reefs and completing a term as president of the Bermuda Hotel Association. He believes his experiences with employees and customers will help him in politics.

Mr. Scott, who polled 21 percent of the vote running alone in 1989, said education was "almost running neck and neck with the economy'' as a campaign issue.

"I think we've put the UBP on the defensive,'' he said.

Southampton West: Candidates -- David Dodwell, 45, hotelier (UBP); Pamela Gordon, 38, manager (UBP); Matthew Lindo, 38, businessman (NLP); Terry Lister, 39, accountant,(PLP); Michael Scott, 43, lawyer (PLP).

Electoral Hall -- Southampton Glebe School.

Electorate -- 1,677.

1989 election -- Harry Viera (UBP) 648; Ralph Marshall (UBP) 632; Michael Scott (PLP) 399; Raymond Whitecross (NLP) 202.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION