South, David Burch, leaped into the number two spot early in the General Election count and trailed just behind UBP veteran C.V. (Jim) Woolridge. It also stated that UBP MP Trevor Moniz crept up, winning second place by just 20 votes.

But Mr. Burch was always in third place. At the end of the first count Mr.

Moniz had 155, Mr. Woolridge had 153, and Mr. Burch had 144 votes. At the end of final count Mr. Woolridge led with 750 votes, Mr. Moniz received 730, and Mr. Burch had 563.

The United Bermuda Party scored another victory in Smith's South with incumbents C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Trevor Moniz.

But newcomer Lt. Col. David Burch, running for the Progressive Labour Party, gave them a run for their money.

"Obviously I am happy we won,'' Mr. Woolridge said. "But it was a closer fought battle than we have ever had.'' Both he and Mr. Moniz agreed that the PLP's election strategy with "plumper'' votes put Mr. Burch in a strong position.

"All of the support went to the parties -- there were very few split votes,'' added Mr. Woolridge.

Early into the count, Mr. Burch had leaped into the number-two position, trailing just behind Woolridge. But Moniz crept up winning second place by just 20 votes.

The final count came in at approximately 9.50 p.m., from the constituency with just 1,576 registered voters.

Mr. Woolridge, who has represented Smith's South for some 30 years now, won 750 votes, a slight decrease from the 1993 election when he won 780. Mr. Moniz was just behind at 730 votes -- an increase of 40.

Mr. Burch won 563 votes. A dramatic increase over Dr. Clark Godwin, who stood in the 1993 election for the PLP, winning just 340 votes.

One of the National Liberal Party's four candidates, Graeme Outerbridge, stood in the constituency receiving just 150 votes. Independent Gershwin Smith garnered 38 votes.

A total of 1,311 votes were cast and three were rejected.

There was a steady turnout throughout the day. And all candidates were on hand at the Harrington Sound Primary School polling station throughout the day -- with the exception of Mr. Smith.

Mr. Burch said he was pleased to see so many people he had met out canvassing the area, turning out to vote. "Certainly a PLP victory is more important than a seat in Smith's South,'' Mr. Burch added.

Earlier in the day Mr. Outerbridge, who was supported by his son, thought he would have one of either two fates -- that the vote would go back to the PLP, or that he would do better than the last election when he won 283 votes.

But the results were not in his favour. "I faded'', said Mr. Outerbridge.

"It was evident that people don't think their votes (for Mr. Outerbridge) will see any changes.'' Mr. Smith, who was later reached at home, said: "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.'' RESULTS C.V. (Jim) Woolridge (UBP) 750 Trevor Moniz (UBP) 730 David Burch (PLP) 563 Graeme Outerbridge (NLP) 150 Gershwin Smith (Ind) 38 Rejected ballots 3