Tillman Darrell yesterday formally announced his plan to run in Pembroke South East in the next General Election.His aim is to be an advocate for the residents of Constituency 21 and the Middletown neighbourhood he once lived in.“I alone feel that I have a long and intimate connection and I am definitely concerned about some of the issues facing area residents there,” he said, flanked by family members and area residents.“I have sat with these constituents, I’ve talked with them and I truly understand some of their challenges that exist today. I know how party politics has plagued and frustrated constituents in 21.“As an independent candidate, once I have been elected to Parliament, I will be a voice of consensus and more importantly a champion for constituency 21, their issues and their concerns.”Mr Darrell is one of three independents vying for votes in what has traditionally been a Progressive Labour Party stronghold.Winfield (Chuck) Simpson and Andre Curtis are both hoping for a win against the PLP’s Rolfe Commissiong and OBA candidate Jeff Baron.The coming election won’t be the first Mr Darrell has contested. He campaigned for the United Bermuda Party in Constituency 21 in 2007, earning 252 votes; the ruling party’s Ashfield DeVent won the seat with 526. Mr DeVent lost out to Mr Commissiong in the candidate selection contest last year.“I did the best I could,” said Mr Darrell of his first attempt at a Parliament seat. “I am somewhat amazed that there’s so many people now who are interested in running in a constituency that, quite frankly, no-one really wanted to run in outside of the Progressive Labour Party members and I’m not sure why that is.“Some of it is, I think, that people are mistaken on two fronts. One, I think they’re thinking the constituents in 21 are not politically astute and they are mistaken if they think that. Two, they think maybe Rolfe Commissiong is not a strong, positive candidate, and they are mistaken on that.”If successful, Mr Darrell said he was willing to work with any party to ensure Bermuda’s best interests come first.“My approach to politics is quite simple, and I look forward to working hard with real solutions and avoid the political rhetoric that has plagued politics in this Country and look forward to meeting each and every one of my constituents on the doorstep over the coming weeks.”He said he wasn’t concerned how a five-way race might affect the vote.“If my calculations are right and people start to really look into their heart of hearts and elect candidates they believe they are truly connected to, I think I should do well.“That’s not saying Rolfe and Jeff Baron and whoever else aren’t good people who don’t have a good heart, but I am truly tied and connected. I have family here and I want to represent them.”He said his top concerns are crime, finance and jobs.“Other concerns raised by young black men in the community centre around the stop list and the stigma attached to the Middletown area. The people haven’t seen much change in this area and I think it’s time,” Mr Darrell said.“They should be able to travel and go up and down the Island wherever they want. Instead, they live in fear of being seen and being labelled, or maybe gunned down for being in the wrong place, with the wrong people at the wrong time. It’s serious.“I remember growing up in this area and I, like most in my area, whenever we applied for jobs we thought twice about putting Middletown down as our address. That was way back then because if you came from Middletown you probably were not going to get the job.“Now if you’re from Middletown you are probably affiliated with a gang or you’re a drug dealer. I say this, ‘I’m from Middletown and I want to be the champion for young black people, for young black men in this area so they will know that you can come up in this area, do the right thing and still be successful’.“I think that would speak volumes for the constituents in this area. I wasn’t squeaky clean, I was a handful, but it could be done. I’m asking people to forget party and think about the man, the individual, the person.”He continued: “I’m not coming under the United Bermuda Party so now I need to hear your views as to why you can’t support me. This constituency has not seen the labour for their fruit. I think we’re coming to a time when people are possibly going to start looking at individual candidates, individuals they feel they can connect to, individuals that they feel they can reach at any given time and have a word and champion their cause.”