Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said yesterday he was undecided about whether to run again for election this year.

Mr. Madeiros told The Royal Gazette a ballot for all members of the Corporation of Hamilton would probably be held in July — but that he had not yet made up his mind about standing for a second term.

He beat Sonia Grant to become Mayor in an October 2006 by-election, following in the footsteps of his friend Jay Bluck, who had only served as Mayor for four months when he died aged 65 on September 1 that year.

Mr. Madeiros said: "I have done a portion of a term. I haven't decided at this point [whether to stand again]. It was never my intention to be Mayor when I first got elected as alderman.

"Jay Bluck asked me to serve with him and under him. When he passed away, I had some decisions to make but I was never in the starting gates to be Mayor."

Mr. Madeiros, who did a six-year stint on the Corporation in the 1990s, became an alderman in April 2006, along with David Dunkley and William Black. The three men were the only candidates nominated so no election was necessary.

City Hall has seen numerous changes in personnel since then. Mr. Black was removed from the Corporation last July for not being properly registered on the city's voters' list; other members have resigned or been asked to step down.

Mr. Dunkley was told he was ineligible to serve due to his status on the voters' list but he appealed the decision and continues as alderman pending a court hearing on the issue.

The two other serving aldermen are Deputy Mayor Courtland Boyle and Pamela Ferreira and the councillors are Kathryn Gibbons, John Harvey, Charles Gosling, Glen Smith and Dennis Tucker.

Mr. Madeiros said yesterday that the municipality had until December 31 to hold a full election — which is required every three years — and was likely to do so in July.

He said an advertising campaign urging eligible taxpayers to make sure they are on the municipal register would take place before the vote.

Government pledged in its February 2008 Throne Speech to overhaul the corporations of Hamilton and St. George's. The Corporation of Hamilton has since submitted recommendations for changes to the law governing the two bodies.

Mr. Madeiros said the municipality had heard nothing back since. Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque said yesterday: "Progress has been made. However, in advance of necessary consultation, it would not be prudent to comment further."

The Corporation of St. George's has set a tentative date for a full election on November 18 this year.

• Mr. Madeiros advised tourists yesterday that the toilets at the former Number One Shed on Front Street should reopen tomorrow evening. The shed was knocked down recently but the toilets were left intact.