Within two months Sandys North voters will have to choose a new representative to replace Eugene Cox who died on January 9.

The by-election, which according to the Constitution must be held by March 9, will be Bermuda's first under the single-seat electoral system.

The Island's political machineries have already started their candidate selection process, but neither of the two main parties were willing to discuss plans or speculate about who will likely fill Mr. Cox's shoes.

For the ruling Progressive Labour Party interest is high - eight or nine people are believed to be eyeing the seat, three of whom are women.

Candidates will almost certainly be people with a close association with the area.

And insiders report that both Government Senator Michael Scott, who ran for Southampton West Central during last year's General Election, and Ellen-Kay Horton, who is the sister of Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton, are interested in what is generally considered to be a safe bet for the Progressive Labour Party (PLP).

Other names mentioned include former Senator David Burch, Nelda Simons and Dawn Simmons. Most were staying tight-lipped when asked to comment. But Eugenie Simmons, head of the Bermuda College's Department of Continuing Education, told The Royal Gazette last night that she was giving her possible candidacy “active consideration”.

“Constituency 36 is a very special constituency and it requires someone who is prepared to put in a lot of time and effort. There is also the consideration that to follow in Mr. Cox footsteps is no small feat but a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one small step,” she said.

“Having raised my family and been successful at my career it seems like a good next step.”

But she added: “Thirty six is not a constituency to throw your hat into the ring lightly.

“It has not always been a safe seat. And the demographics are interesting - it has the potential to be a UBP stronghold and the PLP voters cannot be taken for granted - they are very loyal and expect loyalty and hard work from whoever represents them.”

Ms Simmons is about to complete her doctorate in organisational leadership for adult higher education.

“The party is paying a close attention to what's going on in district 36 because Mr. Cox was a national treasure,” said the PLP's public relations officer Scott Simmons, himself a possible contender for the upcoming poll.

Premier Alex Scott would only say that the process will proceed in a timely manner.

And, on the Opposition United Bermuda Party side, lawyer Edward Bailey, 54, may have already expressed an interest to his party's candidate selection committee.

The former UBP MP took on PLP stalwart Walter Lister and the National Liberal Party's Graeme Outerbridge in district 34 (Sandys South Central) during the July, 2003 General Election. He lost the poll by 300 votes but vowed to run again.

Mr. Bailey is well known in cricket circles having served as president of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and was MP for the old Sandys North for the UBP from 1985 until 1989.

Mr. Cox was the third Cabinet Minister in the history of party politics in Bermuda to pass away while in office.

The other two were the ruling party's first Tourism Minister David Allen, who represented Pembroke East Central, and Bill McPhee who represented Pembroke West and died in 1985.

Mr. Allen succumbed to cancer in September, 2002.

Sandys North, or district 36, was the first result to be declared during the July election. The late Finance Minister won the poll by 200 votes against the UBP's Gerald Fubler, who said yesterday he would not run in the by-election, saying he wanted to focus on his career.

The electorate must be given at least 28 days notice to go to the polls and voters will be given a chance to update their registrations for a week after the writ is dropped. The Parliamentary Registrar will then publish a draft voters' list for the district and after another week for public review will publish a final voters' list. “We've started to prepare a file and we're just waiting for a date,” said Parliamentary Registrar Sabrina Phillips yesterday.