After narrow failures in 1998 and 2003, professional golfer Kim Swan is hoping it will be third time lucky at next month's General Election.

Mr. Swan is refusing to even consider what he will do if he loses out again to current St. George's West MP Dean Foggo — likening himself to a golfer approaching the 15th hole thinking about nothing other than his next shot.

He's itching to get his chance to shout about St. George's issues in the House of Assembly as he has been doing as Opposition Senate Leader for the past six years.

His chief concern is crime and the closure of the York Street Police station on January 2 — and he questions the timing of Public Safety Minister David Burch's pledge earlier this week to reopen the facility when, days earlier, the United Bermuda Party's St. George's North candidate Kenneth Bascome had vowed to reopen the station if elected.

"You can't speak about St. George's unless you appreciate the need for a dedicated Police presence," he said.

"Certainly that's not an issue that came up last week. Before 2003, a promise was made that this wouldn't be an issue today. I have been a vocal critic of the closure of St. George's Police station. I'm sad that it's come to this.

"We are in the season of press conferences and promises."

He says he will seek to reduce fear of crime further by introducing lighting in areas including Ferry Reach and Wellington Lane.

Mr. Swan ran as a UBP candidate in Sandys South when he was in his mid-20s and has remained loyal to the party ever since.

He said: "As a young candidate in 1983, I had been an outspoken person on issues. Since then, there are my letters to the editor that I wrote in the late 80s that highlighted issues that needed addressing that form part of our platform today. I support it being a part of our platform."

These include fixed term elections and payroll tax relief for people below the poverty line, he said.

Although he's never been an MP, Mr. Swan says he has used his role in the Senate and as a leading member of the community to get across the points of view of the "have-nots" in his constituency and the rest of the Island.

He says it is up to the people of St. George's West to choose between his outspoken style and the more understated approach of Mr. Foggo.

"I'm most loyal to the issues that impact Bermudians. I make sure that those issues are brought up in the public domain and not behind closed doors," he said.

"The whole essence of being in a Government position is to be in touch with the people and be their voice. I certainly feel I'm proud of my record as leader of the Senate. If elected, I will be me. I will do my best to respond to the concerns of my people.

"In the Senate, the opportunity comes round quickly to address different matters, but that doesn't come without research. I'm not going to make an apology for being an outspoken voice."

Other constituency issues Mr. Swan says he would tackle include protecting diminishing levels of green space in the Ferry Reach area, where he claims residents' protests have been ignored as industrial development has been stepped up. He also pledged to push for repair work on the Causeway to be completed and for an end to the Club Med deadlock.