Premier Alex Scott yesterday announced March 4 as the date for the Sandys North by-election and admitted it could be seen as a barometer on his performance as Premier.

At the moment the contest appears to be a two-way race between Corin Smith for the United Bermuda Party and one of nine Progressive Labour Party parliamentary hopefuls. No third party or independent candidate has emerged.

"Over the next few weeks there will be many opportunities to remind the Bermudian electorate of Government's record of achievement, but most important for this constituency, it will be an opportunity to test those who wish to follow in the footsteps of a giant who represented the best in political, professional and personal acumen," the Premier said at a Press conference yesterday afternoon.

"Many people have expressed an interest in running for this seat. I believe this says a lot about the man who held it for so long, it says a lot about the Progressive Labour Party and it says a lot about the Bermudian public and their keen interest in democracy."

The Premier agreed that the poll could be viewed as a barometer on his administration's performance so far, and said that all voters should turn out regardless of which party they support.

"We are hoping that the voters will use this opportunity to confirm what we are seeing ? an increased support for our agenda, a willingness for the public to shoulder their responsibilities for the governance of this Island and we are encouraging all Bermudians to come out."

Mr. Scott also said that he hoped for a strong turnout which will begin to reverse the historical trend of low voter turnouts at by-elections.

He reported that membership of the Sandys North branch had more than tripled in recent weeks and now stands at around 200, or one fifth of the number of the district's registered voters ? an indication, he said, of "tremendous renewed interest".

At last summer's General Election, the district had 1,037 registered voters, 300 of whom did not vote.

The Premier said that in general the PLP's central committee confirmed the branch's choice of a candidate, but there had been occasions when the branch put forward two names for the central committee's consideration or otherwise left the decision to the central committee.

"In this case the branch has things well in hand," he added.

The branch will go through run-off elections, probably by the end of this week, to determine which of nine people will be the branch's nominee.

The party has confirmed the names of the nine people interested in becoming a candidate: College administrator Eugenie Simmons, former Senator and Housing Minister David Burch, Melvin Simmons, corporate trainer Dawn Simmons, Ellen-Kate Horton, Senator Michael Scott, Kenneth (Pop) Simmons, taxi driver and former air traffic control specialist Mark Bean, and contractor Rodney Smith.

Sen. Scott, Eugenie Simmons and Melvin Simmons were considered top runners for the nomination, with strong reservations within the branch against David Burch and Ellen Kate Horton, but with the addition of several dozen more members, it's now anyone's guess who will be chosen.

Lt. Col. Burch, who was also former Premier Jennifer Smith's chief of staff, is believed to have the support of the Cox family and some members of the Cabinet.