The political temperature is continuing to rise with both main parties polling furiously.

AME pastor Leonard Santucci and Bermuda Telephone Company executive Karla Lacey-Minors are both being tipped to contest seats in the next General Election for the ruling United Bermuda Party.

The two could pair up for a tussle with two PLP Shadow Ministers, David Allen and Stanley Morton, in Pembroke East Central, where the ruling United Bermuda Party are keen to try and pick up one seat.

Rev. Santucci, however, minister at the Heard Chapel in Pembroke, also has connections in St. George's South -- a Progressive Labour Party target -- as he is former minister at St. Luke's Church.

Both Rev. Santucci and Ms Lacey-Minors are off the Island and could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Another man of the cloth with political ambitions is Rev. Larry Lowe of Richard Allen AME Church in St. George's. Dr. Lowe has been approached by both the Hamilton Parish, where he is from, and St. George's branches -- but has said he is prepared to run anywhere.

Dr. Lowe, who recently returned to Bermuda and whose family are still in the US, was off the Island yesterday and unavailable for comment.

Key constituencies in the election -- which has to be called by October next year, but is likely to take place towards the end of this year or the start of 1998 -- are the split constituencies of Warwick East and West, St. George's South and Hamilton East and West.

Community activist and barbershop owner Cromwell Shakir has already been selected by the local PLP branch to run alongside Dr. Ewart Brown in Warwick West against Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness.

A UBP poll in the five constituencies finished last week -- but the party does not release polling results.

Possible candidates in Warwick East, currently split between Environment Minister Irving Pearman and Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott, include new UBP Senator ET (Bob) Richards.

Sen. Richards, son of Bermuda's first black Premier Sir Edward Richards, was born and brought up in Warwick East. Other possible candidates include David Dunkley and Sanders Frith-Brown.

St. George's South -- where Government Whip Rick Spurling's running mate Grace Bell fought off the PLP's Arthur Pitcher by just 41 votes in 1993 -- may see a fresh face.

PLP newcomer Craig Walls -- who impressed in his first outing in the UBP stronghold of Paget East, where bookshop boss Kim Young won former Premier Sir John Swan's seat -- admitted he could be interested in a run in the far more winnable St. George's South, his home area.

But it is understood that he is still considering his political future after Mrs. Young romped home and may opt not to stand again.

Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith yesterday refused to discuss who might be in the frame for the PLP, but confirmed the selection process is on-going.

She also declined to speculate on when a General Election might be called.

Ms Smith said: "I expect an election at any time -- I never know what they are going to do. Certainly all the signs are there at the moment.'' Karla Lacey-Minors