Based on constituent feedback, he may be the most hardest-working MP in Bermuda's history ¿ Dale Butler is a well-known former Principal, educator and a man of culture ¿ most notably his fish cakes.

He has held the seat of what is now known as Warwick North East since 1998, the year the Progressive Labour Party defeated the ruling United Bermuda Party for the first time.

He's also known for canvassing the area tirelessly, sometimes six days a week and even the day after the General Election, as well as maintaining a rock-solid presence there.

"With my additional responsibility that I have as a Minister, it's not as easy as people think to be the area representative and the Minister and still canvass," he said.

"In spite of that, I have worked extremely hard, doubled my efforts from 1998 until 2003 to get around, see what's going on in the Parish to address its concerns.

"And at the same time, the major responsibility of being a Government Minister, which takes you all over the place and allows you to do for the whole country."

Mr. Butler is also a well-known historian, orator and one of Bermuda's most prolific writers and publishers, having published more than 50 books.

He is currently the executive director of Atlantic Publishing House, which has been publishing for 30 years.

He was appointed Minister of Community Affairs and Sport when he was re-elected in 2003 and in 2006 he was appointed to the new Ministry of Social Rehabilitation where he currently serves.

After attending Central School, he continued on to the Berkeley Institute, and the Bermuda College.

Mr. Butler earned a Masters degree in Education from Miami University and a Masters in Science from Indiana University and has successfully undertaken several courses at Vermont University, Marva Collins and Harvard University.

Moreover, throughout his terms as an MP, he has cultivated a reputation as a responsive, relentless, grassroots constituency representative who has a sincere appreciation for his constituents.

While there isn't enough space to list all of his accomplishments, his efforts include the installation of speed bumps at Spring Hill, the paving of the railway right-of-way from Cobbs Hill to Bright Temple.

As well as the installation of 'Go Slow' signs on private roads. "The Government is reluctant to pave Railway right-of-ways," he explained while reflecting on his work.

"But I was able to get sufficient signatures, take pictures and video and send it in to the Minister of Works and Engineering to get the road paved and to show how this road is used."

He's been canvassing hard ¿ real hard, he told this paper. "Marl Lane is the last remaining section that I have to do.

"Along with a short section of Harbour Road. Obviously, three weeks away from the election, then I go back.

"Because sometimes you knock on a door and they're just getting in.

On average, since January, I've been to all of these houses about four times," he pointed out while in the neighbourhood.

"The day after I was elected in 1998 I was back out on the doorstep.

This election is on December 18, so I will go out on the 19th, 20th and 21st.

"And I particularly go to people who come to the polls and say they didn't see me ¿ I remember their name and their face ¿ and I go back to them about six times until they say 'why are you here?'

"It's because once an MP is elected, they're not elected to come back to your house every minute, they're elected to get on with the work.

"And when you don't see them it's because you haven't called them to say 'I've got some work for you to do.' I get on with the work."

Asked to speculate why the last election was so close, it was because people voted on party lines; something he suggested might be different this time around.

He revealed: "The dilemma is, at the polling station in 2003, I was told, 'Mr. Butler you represented us well ¿ you were at our doorstep, at meetings, clinics and you organised activities.

"I was just about everywhere and I spoke up, I was told I was a perfect representative; but you're in the wrong party ¿ I got that a lot from UBP supporters.

"They had a dilemma. There was no doubt that I did everything they wanted, they voted strictly party, not all of them, there were others who said 'I was UBP but based on your level of service, I'm supporting you.'

"And they voted for me, the individual."

Mr. Butler is a member of St. Paul AME Church, Leopard's Club and PHC.

The father of two sons, Jay and Russell, he serves as a director of the Little Venice Group.