Shadow development minister Allan Marshall and PLP Senator Patrice Parris face a tough fight in constituency 10, Smith's North.

Mr. Marshall should expect to pick up support around Flatts Village and some of the more prosperous homes along North Shore, but Ms Parris can count on heavy backing further west in the Loyal Hill area.

The seat runs from Flatts Village to Barker's Hill in the West and is bordered by North Shore and Middle Road.

It comprises parts of the old Smith's North, which was represented by Mr. Marshall and Cole Simons for the UBP, and the rest is the former Devonshire North, which was held for the PLP by Dame Lois Browne Evans and Paula Cox. It is mainly middle class and about 60-70 percent of the voters are black.

Mr. Marshall has had a head start in canvassing as Ms Parris, who was married three weeks ago, has just returned from a honeymoon.

Mr. Marshall said: "There are a lot of recurring themes but they can be encapsulated in the need for good government. They are saying they need a government we can respect and trust in office.

"Underneath that, the main bread and butter issues are education, the high cost of housing, and crime, particularly connected to young people.

"They are very much middle class Bermudians. A lot are home-owners and many have seen land tax increases. They see challenges trying to get ahead in Bermuda and they are concerned about the education system and our young people.

"A lot of them have a general distrust of the public education system because of the problems and there are the challenges there of having to put their kids through private school and bearing the expense that goes with that.

"They are strong, solid citizens with a traditional Bermudian value system of respect for each other, fairness, politeness, hard-work and compassion for one another.

"A lot of them are expressing a wariness of finding a government that will do the right thing and they can trust.

"A lot of voters feel very let down and for most of them it is not about PLP or UBP, it is about good government. It is about having time to focus on the issues here in the community versus those outside Bermuda. It's about spending time here dealing with the issues here.

"I think my chances are very good. I am a straight shooter and I believe in keeping things simple because there are very simple solutions to some of the issues we have and it is very difficult to do that if many people in the present administration are off the Island."

Ms Parris said residents she had canvassed already touched on national issues such as crime and education, and added that there was an initiative by the Loyal Hill Community Association that was interested in seeing a neighbourhood watch scheme implemented and also a buddy system established for the elderly "so that residents could keep an eye out for the various seniors in the area".

Ms Parris said residents in that neighbourhood would be holding a rally this Friday at 7.30 p.m. where they would be able to meet her and quiz her as to how she will address their concerns.

"The aim is to promote it to all the residents of Smith's North so that they might come out to hear and see me and pose any questions they might have."

She added: "I'm running in an area in which I have some history and I know people from the area. The response I've been getting has been extremely favourable. I will greatly endeavour to represent them well should I be elected.

"I consider myself to be a people person, comfortable within any setting. I think I am a good listener and, of course, the test is what I do after I've been listening to what's been said. I might not speak much but when I do speak I hope that it is seen that I'm being effective. I feel confident about this race."