Mickey Mouse has become an unlikely part of the battlelines drawn up between two runners in the race for the mayorship of St. George?s later this month.

Concern that a theme park or Walt Disney World might be created in the town to drum up visitor numbers has been conjured up as a contentious issue between the two early candidates for the leadership of St. George?s.

And there is also criticism that the town should not be ?dabbling? in issues that Government is meant to be taking care of.

One week after current Mayor E. Michael Jones announced a snap election for January 26, his first named rival has spoken out to explain why she intends to challenge for the position.

Former Corporation member Mariea Caisey, who lost out in the last election in 2003 by two votes, believes it is time for a change and is reported to have said that she doesn?t believe the town should be ?dabbling in things that the Government should be taking care of?.

She is also unimpressed by the thought of St. George?s opening itself up as a theme park.

But both suggestions have met with unequivocal replies from Mr. Jones who said the town wasn?t muscling in on the Government agenda but was responding to an opportunity to have its views considered before decisions were made ? and he has no intention of creating a Walt Disney-type theme park, but believes the town should now look to provide more family and children friendly amenities.

Ms Caisey, who is a former deputy mayor, said she had been listening to people in the community who had urged her to stand as a candidate.

?There are things that need to be addressed since my time on the Corporation. I don?t want to list them yet but they are very important,? she said.

Asked why she wasn?t prepared to reveal her list before the election, Ms. Caisey, said: ?I don?t want to show my cards. If I?m successful then the first thing that I will address will be these things.?

The Bank of Bermuda bank manager was more forthcoming on what she views as errors by Mr. Jones. She does not think it right that there be any ?surmising? of possible alterations to the Town Cut for Panamax cruise ships before computer simulation data is available.

She continued: ?I believe there should be more town meetings. People need to come out and voice their opinions where it counts so the Corporation can represent the people. I can?t see St. George having a theme park or a Walt Disney on its shores. We don?t want our streets to be overrun. The town does not need a theme park.?

The Walt Disney concern was made in reference to comments made by Mr. Jones in an interview with when he said St. George?s needed to liven itself up and become a ?five? on a scale of one to ten, where a ?ten? would be a Walt Disney World.

On hearing of his rivals thoughts Mr. Jones, who has been mayor since 2003, said: ?I wouldn?t want to see a theme park or a Walt Disney on our shores and I have never issued such a statement. What I would like to see is some additional activities in the town to supplement the World Heritage Site.

?We have the historical buildings but I believe we need to have some additional amenities and activities because not everyone wants to do a World Heritage tour or visit museums. Families and children need something to do.?

On the subject of the Town Cut, he said: ?I?m waiting just like everyone else for the results to come back on the computer simulation, then we can all make a decision.

?Personally I think it would be unwise to widen the Town Cut, particularly if you are talking about widening it 100 feet or 150 feet. But there may be other solutions.?

He said he would like to have held a public meeting on this situation already to get the town?s feedback, but has held back because of the delay in the computer data being available and would now not take place until the election is over.

And on the implied criticism that the town was busying itself in issues that should be left to the Government, Mr. Jones replied: ?I?m very pleased that the Government has chosen to deliberate with us and allow us to make decisions for the town.?

Praising Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown for giving St. George?s, Hamilton and Dockyard the opportunity to participate in the planning of waterfront developments in their respective locations ? as part of the Waterfront Taskforce ? he said: ?I?m happy that we are involved in these deliberations and can go to the people and find out what they want to have here.

?As mayor it is my duty to bring the information to the people and let them decide what they want.?

Ms Caisey said an agreement between the ?old Corporation? members was behind the decision of former Senator Kenneth Bascome to step aside from challenging for the mayorship despite having started the process of canvassing earlier last week.

She said: ?Kenny is a hard worker and means well. The old Corporation that I sat on with Kenny had an agreement that if any one of us ran for the mayorship then the others would not run against them. So as Kenny says, we are being cohesive.?

That doesn?t tally with Mr. Jones who pointed out that in 2003 Ms. Caisey and former ?old Corporation? member Ross Smith were both rival candidates running against him.