As a political newcomer taking on an established Government MP whose party is way ahead in the polls, Austin Warner faces an uphill battle.

But he has taken on and surmounted far bigger personal battles and triumphed.

Hooked on heroin when he was just ten, the New Yorker was able to beat the disease and lead a productive adult life.

He told The Royal Gazette: “It’s a long story, it involved a lot of family abuse and family neglect and my inability to filter that as a ten-year-old child.”

But in the late 1960s, at age 17, when a lot of people were falling into drugs Mr. Warner was able to overcome his cravings. “It wasn’t because I just wanted to change my life, it was because I had no other option. I was on the lowest of low on the totem poll of addiction.”

And he has been clean for 37 years. “I spent my early adulthood developing strong values rather than partying and getting high so I was able to be of help at an early age.”

Rehab worked for him and he has made it work for other people becoming a qualified addictions counsellor.

He came here in 1977 with his first Bermudian wife and lived in Woodlands Road — which is part of the seat he now aims to win. Now he lives in Devonshire.

He’s reluctant to attack the Government over its record on tackling addiction, but adds the issue has been tossed around too long without getting the attention and finance needed.

What is needed is a willingness to tackle it at every level of society, said Mr. Warner.

Sick of criticising from the sidelines, Mr. Warner wanted to get involved in politics and looked at both parties nearly two years ago. “During that investigative period I was embraced by the United Bermuda Party — they welcomed me. I was not held at bay or ignored.”

But most importantly, he said, they reflected his values of integrity, dignity and honesty which he summarises as: “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” Meanwhile he found the PLP’s approach to race was a turn-off. Asked if he is confident of overturning Mr. Perinchief’s healthy majority, he said: “I believe I am called to be here.

“It’s been supported as I have canvassed and the voices of the people I have listened to,” said Mr. Warner. “I am very confident there is going to be a turnover and it’s going to be a huge turnover.”