Current Mayor of Hamilton Lawson Mapp will stand for office once again next month, but is being challenged by Alderman Jay Bluck.

Mr. Mapp said yesterday that he wishes to remain in the post he has held since 2000 to continue his involvement in development projects, including plans to revamp the city?s waterfront.

However, Mr Bluck hinted that Mr. Mapp may be breaking a ?gentlemen?s agreement? by putting his name forward again.

Confirming that he plans to stand for a third term in office, Mr. Mapp referred to ongoing plans to develop the waterfront and bring a new hotel to the heart of the city.

?I have decided that with the waterfront development and trying to sign someone up as a developer for the hotel, that I would throw my hat into the ring. Let?s give the voters an opportunity to see who they want,? he said.

His previous election win in 2003 was dogged by controversy. In April of that year he claimed he was being bullied out of office by Corporation colleagues and said an agreement ? formally passed by a vote ? that a mayor can serve for two terms had been reneged upon.

He declined to answer questions last night about how many terms the mayor is allowed to stand for, saying: ?The waters were very muddy last time. I don?t want to get into that. We are in office at the pleasure of the constituents.? He said he would comment in more detail about his plans in due course.

Mr Mapp has been a member of the Corporation since 1979. At present, around 395 people are eligible to vote within the City. Nominations for the 2006 election, which will be held on April 27, are currently being sought. The deadline for candidates to put their names forward is April 20 and whoever wins the election will be in charge of a $20 million budget.

Mr. Bluck, 65, said of the news that Mr. Mapp intends to stand for a third term: ?The Corporation has had a number of instances where those sort of things have happened.

?There have been gentlemen?s agreements that you would stand for one or two terms and (then) allow others to make a contribution.

?This is part of history. Generally speaking, it?s felt the members should serve a couple of terms and stand by. It?s not a formal agreement, it?s not in the rules, but it?s been discussed over the years.

?I think some of the resignations last time were as a direct result of the fact that a gentlemen?s agreement had not been honoured. I was very sad about that and did in fact resign but I was asked by one or two members to come back as they felt they needed some business people to be there to provide leadership.?

He said he believes that he has the leadership that is required to be mayor ? citing his experience as both an Alderman and Councillor and on a number of standing committees.

He said that the development committee of the Corporation ? comprising of the Mayor and Aldermen, has embarked on an ?exciting programme of rejuvenation for our city? including the plans for the waterfront and hotel.

?These plans continue, and will succeed in bringing real life and beauty back to Hamilton which has become run down and tired in recent years,? he added.

Mr. Bluck also highlighted his concerns about law and order. ?I?m very worried about the lack of policing that exists in the city,? he said, claiming that appeals by the Corporation to the Governor and Government had not produced a satisfactory response.

According to unconfirmed reports yesterday, current Alderman and deputy mayor Sonia Grant is also likely to stand. Ms Grant was said to be off the Island last night. However, she told last Thursday that she could not comment on whether she would stand or not.

Reacting to the news, Alderman David Dunkley said he loves the City and therefore wants a well-run Corporation.

He added: ?The Mayor should have 100 percent cooperation and whoever wins, I will give 100 percent support.?

He said that rightfully, as Deputy Mayor, Ms Grant should be standing, adding he has no plans to run for mayor himself.

Councillor James Jardine, who has been in office since 1988, said he would not be seeking re-election to that post due to the workload associated with his main job as chief executive officer of law firm Appleby Spurling Hunter.

Of the news that both Mr. Mapp and Mr. Bluck plan to run for mayor, he said: ?It?s healthy to have a couple of people interested in a position like that. It?s an important position within Bermuda.?