Former Corporation of Hamilton Alderman Sonia Grant is considering throwing her name in the hat for the forthcoming mayoral election.

The Corporation is in the process of arranging an election for the post after Mayor Jay Bluck died of a heart attack on September 1 after being in the top job for just four months.

He had beaten off competition for the position from Miss Grant, an attorney, and previous Mayor Lawson Mapp who had led the city since 2000, in the poll on April 27. Mr. Bluck scored 115 votes, Miss Grant 94 and Mr. Mapp 22, which put him in charge of the city?s $20 million annual budget.

Asked yesterday if she planned to put her name forward again, Miss Grant said: ?I?m still considering it. There is no indication when the election might be.?

She explained that the Municipalities Act 1923 which governs the Corporation does not set out a timescale within which an election must be called.

Asked what might influence her decision, she said: ?I?ve settled back into my law practice. That?s the most onerous thing.?

Deputy Mayor David Dunkley, who has been holding the reins at City Hall since Mr. Bluck?s death said yesterday that an announcement will be made on the election next week after a meeting with Corporation members.

Asked if he was thinking of putting his name forward, he said: ?I?m considering it.? He said he did not know when he would make his decision.

Asked the same question, Mr. Mapp ? who had pushed for Corporation members to be paid during his time in office ? said: ?You?ve got to be kidding. How much are you going to pay me to run for the Corporation? At least people who serve on a jury get $25. It?s ridiculous. They have got to come out of the dark ages.?

Explaining further why he had no desire to stand again, he added: ?I?ve done that and moved on. I bought the CD and the T-shirt. Let someone else have a go. It will be interesting to see who will emerge.?

Mr. Bluck had pushed during his brief time at the helm for a boost in voter turnout at Corporation elections. He oversaw hundreds of letters being posted out to residents and business owners thought to be eligible after just 387 people were registered to vote at the last election and only 231 actually did so. Officials estimated that up to 1,000 were qualified.

Alderman Sutherland Madeiros said he would continue to push for this and that he hoped the election would be delayed for a period long enough for more people to sign up.

?If people are interested in having a voice in the City of Hamilton they should come to City Hall and register,? he said.