Ruling party Senator Calvin Smith and the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) Senator Leonard Santucci will square off against each other if their respective parties select them as candidates for a by election, which has to be held by November 26.

Pembroke East Central voters will have to choose a new representative to replace David Allen, who died two weeks ago, by that date.

Both potential candidates agree on one thing - that the voters there cannot be taken for granted. The poll is likely to be the last election held under the dual seat system if, as expected, the general election is held under a revamped single seat system. But, with just two opposing candidates, it will, in a sense, be a test run of a the single seat system poll where candidate quality is expected to become more significant.

A by-election will be unnecessary if Premier Jennifer Smith calls a general election before that time.

Yesterday Sen Smith, who lives in Pembroke West Central, said that he would accept whatever decision the party makes about his candidacy bid, but he felt as "qualified as anyone else".

"I think I have the education, experience and the interests," the former Government statistician said. As a senior citizen, he said, he brought a unique perspective to the House of Assembly.

"I feel I can represent the fastest growing population segment in Bermuda - people aged 60 and over. I'm in that group and we are living longer and generally we are healthier and we are certainly underutilised. And this is a potential disaster in a country that imports over 20 percent of its workforce. I would certainly address that issue but on the other hand there is also the issue for those who are retired and made poor who face the very serious issues of health care and housing which currently is borne by young adults at a time in their lives, if they are married, when they can least afford it. These are issues I understand I understand the demographics and I believe I can communicate my views as effectively as anyone else in the party."

He, like Sen Santucci, claimed not to know who else from within their parties might be interested in running.

But he said he believed he was being favourably considered and revealed that the PLP's candidates committee will consider the matter next week.

Sen Smith's potential adversary lives in the constituency but preaches (at Heard Chapel) in neighbouring Pembroke East.

"From my analysis this is probably the most diverse constituency within the Island," Sen. Santucci said. "It encompasses everything from Government House to Middletown to North Hamilton, going to Pitts Bay Road. It is inclusive of all social economic groups. I think the significance of the diversity suggests that one cannot or should not take any group or issue for granted. I think the diversity requires sensitivity. It requires insightful leadership. I think the constituents are people who are suggesting that they should not be taken for granted with reference to where they cast their ballots."

He added that he had not been canvassing the area but "had been canvassed" and his support comes from people of different political persuasions.

"Most of those who oppose me are staunch members of the PLP but think highly of me as a member of the church," he continued.

"If chosen by the party as the candidate I think I have an even chance and I think it will boil down to what the candidates bring to the table. I am not of the opinion that it's just an issue of political persuasion."

Sen. Smith said the constituency's demographics may be undergoing rapid change. "It has probably been substantially changed since the last election. To what extent this has impacted on the voting population I have no idea... It has traditionally been a fairly safe seat for the PLP but the PLP has also lost it once."

The last time a by election had to be held as a result of a death was in February 1999 when UBP MP Madeleine Joell, who represented Paget West died of a brain aneurysm three months after being elected.

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