After 25 years in pursuit of a seat in the House of Assembly, the UBP's Kim Swan realised his ambition to overturn a 22-seat majority in St. George's West to beat sitting MP Dean Foggo.

Mr. Swan secured victory by a slim 17 votes as he polled 457 to Mr. Foggo's 440. There were four spoilt ballots and one rejected.

With tears in his eyes, Mr. Swan said: "I'm happy. I've run for 25 years and I've only ever run in the toughest areas. But I have never lost sight of this (winning).

"I want to congratulate my team and the PLP team and candidate for running a clean race here in St. George's."

He made special mention of his committee and the many members of his family who had supported him, including his stepdaughter Mailinn Wong who had sent him a medical institute shirt that he had worn beneath his own for good luck.

And looking to the future, he said: "I'm going to fight for everybody in Bermuda. I will speak for the people, I'm going to be their voice. This country needs some healing and it starts today."

Defeated Mr. Foggo, who was first elected in 2003, was one of the first to offer his congratulations to Mr. Swan before quickly leaving the polling station.

In defeat he looked ahead to returning to the teaching profession.

He said: "I'm going to go back to the classroom and work with the young people. You have not seen the last of me."

Asked why he thought he had been defeated this time around, he replied: "We (the PLP) have to go back and strategise as a team and do it better."

RESULT

Kim Swan (UBP) 457

Dean Foggo (PLP) 440