Two political parties yesterday announced their candidates for the upcoming Pembroke West by-election.

And as predicted, the Progressive Labour Party will field developer Rodney Smith, 37.

The sociology and theology graduate is active in the community, having served on the Prison Fellowship and in church outreach programmes.

Mr. Smith yesterday was upbeat yesterday about his chances in the United Bermuda Party stronghold, formerly held by the Government duo of Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira and Youth and Sport Minister David Dyer.

The by-election was caused by Dr. Dyer's decision to step down from public service.

Mr. Smith said: "Many people say it's a UBP stronghold and that means a place which has been dominated by a particular group of people.'' And he insisted: "People in the area feel that for quite some time their vote has been taken for granted.

"They are not prepared to give their vote just to anyone, but to the best candidate and someone who will fight for them and speak out for them.'' Mr. Smith added his game plan was to encourage the PLP support to come out on polling day and win over the floating voters.

Mr. Smith, who lives in Warwick, will join National Liberal Party candidate, photographer and party press spokesman Graeme Outerbridge against favourite Erwin Adderley of the UBP for the November 6 poll.

Mr. Outerbridge -- who once considered a challenge for the leadership of the party following the disastrous 1993 General Election campaign and the threatened resignation of then-leader Gilbert Darrell -- only recently returned to Bermuda after a work assignment abroad.

The 45-year-old father of three is a former NLP chairman and stood three times in Smith's South, coming last in a five-horse race in the 1993 election.

Mr. Outerbridge was yesterday off the Island and unavailable for comment.

But National Liberal Party leader Charles Jeffers, who took over as leader unopposed from Mr. Darrell in 1996, said: "The NLP is excited about the prospect of giving the voters a solid choice at the polls.'' At the last contest in the constituency, Dr. Dyer polled 917 votes, nearly 40 percent of the total, while running mate Dr. Terceira notched up 874 votes (32.2 percent).

Carvel VanPutten (PLP) got only 468 votes (17.3 percent), while running mate Michael Cox got 454 votes (16.7 percent).

There were 1818 registered voters with a total of 2713 votes cast -- a turnout of 76.6 percent.

Erwin Adderley: Page 3 UPHILL STRUGGLE -- Rodney Smith, Progressive Labour Party candidate for the upcoming by-election in rock-solid United Bermuda Party Pembroke West, explains his game plan yesterday.