A "great concern" for the community led to Leopold Kuchler's decision to become politically involved, he told The Royal Gazette.

The only white face in the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) general election candidate line up, Mr. Kuchler has lived in Bermuda for 30 years and received Bermuda status 17 years ago.

"I would like to provide my expertise to this PLP government in the future and I look forward to meeting each and everyone possible in constituency 23 and I look forward to serve constituency 23 as well as the entire Bermuda in the PLP government," said Mr. Kuchler when he was announced as a ruling party candidate yesterday.

When this newspaper caught up with him later he described himself as a "conservative" but he believes strongly in the role of government to help people in need. I would never be anywhere left. I'm quite conservative I have to say.

"It sounds like a contradiction but I'm extremely conservative," said Mr. Kuchler.

"But I like to recognise the demands and the needs of the people. You cannot turn from people in need.

"And the role of government is to assist, to provide."

In the past white people who make their allegiances with the PLP publicly known have been ostracised but Mr. Kuchler said that there had been no negative feedback when he decided to join the ruling party.

"I don't give it a thought," he said. "And I can say this straight from my heart. Let me be very honest in respect of racial issues. I'm very open. I don't set any expectations and people don't expect that I'm black or whatever."

He added : "I know one thing - anybody listening to me speaking, my accent is what sticks in the head. To some people it might matter to some it doesn't. What's important is that we have a common goal and the goal must be prosperity and a stable economy. That's very important."

Mr. Kuchler, who is running in district 23or Paget West, was once invited to join the UBP and declined. "I had a problem because they had a racial overtone and I walk away," he said. "That was a long time ago. I was a much younger fellow then."

He wouldn't elaborate on the "racial overtone" of the UBP saying it would be like "picking old grapes".

"I have been asked that question (about race) several times today," he continued. "I can understand it too, but let's look at the future. Let me be very frank I have a lot of sympathy for labour but at the same time I'm also management and people have to give a lot of thought for working harmoniously together. Some people call me a preacher."

He is a strong advocate of the public school system and "would never advocate privatisation of education".

His oldest daughter, now 24 and studying in Vienna, Austria, spent her entire secondary schooling in a private school here, while his youngest was educated in the public system and at 18 was among the first full term CedarBridge Academy graduating class.

"I strongly believe that public school is better. What it takes is the input of parents. That's what it comes down to."

However he laments the "number of children, under 16, on the roads after midnight" and says that the public school system needs to become more regimental.

"Or I should say less liberal. We had a very strong liberalisation of the sector approximately ten years ago in Bermuda and I had a real problem with that because it was different from my upbringing."

Still, he said the public sector provides the "best guidance" for young people. "A regimental upbringing is very much conservative but it does not exist in Bermuda. I come from a regimental schooling - it was extremely strict and that provides fundamental guidelines for life. It was a public school but it was extremely strict."

He said : "My conservatism has a lot in the family aspect, a lot in the business aspect and also it has to do with the social structure. We have a segment of the population in Bermuda who live a very affluent lifestyle and that does not sit right with me."

Mr. Kuchler is leading the latest efforts to establish a Bermuda airline and has already applied for his company, Bermuda Star, to run direct flights to Europe and North America.

He has been involved in hospitality for 30 years and owns Vienna Guest House in Warwick and the Table Spoon Restaurant in Hamilton. He has been a PLP member for one year, has two daughters - aged 18 and 24 - who are Bermudian. He came to the Island to work as a chef and a waiter and besides running his various businesses is the honorary Consul of Austria to Bermuda. His airline project is "in progress" he said. And, no, there is "no connection " between his candidacy and the fact that he is trying to start a Bermuda airline.

"Getting the airline of the ground will contribute to the economy. It does not matter what government is in power."At yesterday's Press conference Mr. Kuchler made it clear that the PLP's approach to tourism was a major influence on his decision to join the party.

He will be running against the UBP's Pat Gordon Pamplin.

On his electoral chances he said : "I work one day at a time and I don't have any expectations. I take nothing for granted, and I like to work. I enjoy work."