PLP begins search for candidate to stand for Premier's seat
Even the biggest doubters may now start to believe Premier Ewart Brown’s House of Assembly days are coming to an end as the Progressive Labour Party launched its hunt for a local candidate to replace him.
Hot on the heels of the announcement of a farewell gala for the outgoing Premier, the PLP yesterday confirmed a by-election will take place in Warwick South Central later this year.
Ever since Dr. Brown said he would step down at the end of his term this October, some party members have maintained they wouldn’t be surprised to see him stage a late bid to stay on as PLP leader for another four years.
And as recently as this week, The Royal Gazette was told of rumours he was planning to stay on as an MP even if he does finish as Premier.
However the party’s statement yesterday put paid to that suggestion, with insiders quick to tip Senators David Burch and Marc Bean as potential candidates for Constituency 26.
Meanwhile their Senate colleague, Attorney General Kim Wilson, yesterday revealed she has put herself forward to replace long-serving Walter Lister in Sandys South Central.
”I have submitted my name to both the Progressive Labour Party chairman and the branch 34 chair, indicating my desire to be considered as the candidate for Constituency 34,” she told this newspaper in an e-mail.
”Having served in my current capacity as Senator, I am now desirous of seeking a direct mandate from the people of Sandys South Central to carry on with my service of addressing a wide range of issues faced in Bermuda generally and in community of Sandys South Central specifically.”
Last month, Mr. Lister announced he would be retiring at the next election after more than three decades as an MP.
The PLP is also looking for candidates in two of the St. George’s seats it narrowly lost at the 2007 General Election.
Sources named Dr. Brown’s press secretary Jamahl Simmons and Pastor Leroy Bean as possible contenders for the seats currently held by United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan and Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP<>Donte Hunt.
Former AG Phil Perinchief, who lost to Mr. Hunt by 25 votes in St. George’s South two-and-a-half years ago, yesterday said he may throw his hat into the ring for the same seat again - or possibly Warwick South Central.
In St. George’s West in 2007, Dean Foggo lost to Mr. Swan by 17 votes. Both seats are traditional marginals, and in St. George’s South next time things could be even tighter because boundary changes have left all three parties thinking they’ve got a chance.
Mr. Simmons, a former UBP MP who quit before joining the PLP ahead of the last election, ran unsuccessfully as a Common Councillor in St. George’s last December.
Rev. Bean, who runs anti-gang violence initiative CARTEL, was said to have been picked by the St. George’s South branch in 2007, but that decision was overturned in favour of Mr. Perinchief.
Yesterday’s party statement said: ”As a by-election is anticipated in Constituency 26 later this year, the Progressive Labour Party is inviting its members who are interested in representing the party in Constituencies Two, Four, and 26 to submit applications to the party on or before August 13 at 5 p.m.
”Potential candidates and members of the affected branches are encouraged to ensure their membership is up-to-date.”