United Bermuda Party (UBP) candidate Anthony Steede is promising to be a “tireless advocate” for public education if elected to the House of Assembly.

But he declined to talk about the fact that, in 1990, he was convicted for stealing money earmarked for a youth programme.

Party leader Grant Gibbons sees the blot on his record as a blip on the radar screen and said that Mr. Steede had since proven himself to be a sterling role model.

Dr. Gibbons introduced Mr. Steede and Gerald Fubler yesterday as the party's candidates for Sandys North Central and Sandys North - constituencies 35 and 36.

Dr. Gibbons cited Mr. Steede's “deep interest in education, having served as president of Somerset Primary School PTA for six years and as president of the Bermuda National PTA for three years.”

“He has been a member of the Board of Education and is a former member of the CedarBridge Academy Board of Governors. He currently serves as the deputy chairman of the CedarBridge Academy PTSA,” Dr. Gibbons said.

For his part Mr. Steede said decentralising public education would go a long way toward improving education.

“Our education system should be focused on challenging children. I don't believe our standards are high enough, neither are the right people held accountable for the results,” Mr. Steede said. “It's time to put decisions about our children's education back in the hands of the principals, teachers and parents where it belongs. Over the last few years we have seen even more centralisation at the Ministry of Education, rather than the Ministry being a resource for the local schools.”

Mr. Steede first ran for elective office in 1998 as a UBP candidate for the now defunct dual seat district Sandys North. He and running mate Ed Bailey managed to eke out 551 and 566 votes respectively while Eugene Cox and Dennis Lister held the area for the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) with1,244 and 1,252 votes each.

At question time he said he was not discouraged at the fact that graduation levels at CedarBridge had dropped significantly this year.

“We have raised the bar and there are a number of students who have not met the grade,” he said.

And he acknowledged that deAnd he acknowledged that decentralising the schools could be achieved in part by giving each school its own board of governors. Both candidates were asked whether they had ever been in trouble with the law.

Mr. Fubler replied with a smile. “No that wouldn't be a good example to the youth would it?” he said.

Mr. Steede said he had “no reckonable” offences. “Not unless you're talking about something that happened over 13 years ago,” he added.

He said he was not prepared to talk about it when asked to elaborate.

Dr. Gibbons had praised both for their service in the Regiment and other community service.

“He has served his country proudly as a captain in the Bermuda Regiment helping to instil discipline and values in our young men,” Dr. Gibbons said, referring to Mr. Steede.

“This year he was appointed commandant of the Bermuda Cadet Corps.”

Mr. Steede's time in the Regiment ended on a sour note, however, after he admitted stealing $1,500 from the armed forces.

The money had been earmarked for the Junior Leaders' programme, but he spent it on himself instead while on Regiment business in Jamaica, a court heard.

An initial three month prison sentence was later suspended for nine months by Chief Justice Sir James Astwood who accepted his lawyer's argument that the sentence was excessive considering Mr. Steede's prior clean record, years of public service and the small amount of money involved. But he was booted out of the Regiment.

Dr. Gibbons told this newspaper that the matter was discussed before the decision was taken to select him as a candidate. “I think people were aware of the situation and we recognise that this was a long time ago and he did his penance and we believe in redemption. It's certainly fair to say that he has since then provided sterling service in the education area,” he said. “If there's an example of somebody who has paid back his debt to society I think Anthony Steede is a wonderful example.

“He has certainly worked to improve public education and is a good example to many young men and women in this country. All of us make mistakes in our lives and I think Anthony has demonstrated that he has more than made up for any mistakes he may have made as a young man.”