Ex-Progressive Labour Party MP the Rev. Trevor Woolridge has quit his seat in the House of Assembly, it was revealed yesterday.

And a three-way race between Bermuda Industrial Union leader Derrick Burgess, ex-Civil Servant Randy Horton and magistrate Arthur Hodgson has opened up to replace Rev. Woolridge as the PLP candidate in a by-election.

Mr. Woolridge said he decided to resign because he could no longer give the time to represent his constituents.

"It will allow someone else who can serve and give the time to the constituents that I will no longer be able to do,'' he told ZBM News. He did not return phone calls to The Royal Gazette .

He added: "But in that regard I want to express my profound gratitude to the fine people of Hamilton East who placed their confidence in me.'' A by-election in Hamilton East -- which must be called in the next 60 days -- will be a clear test of the popularity of the two major parties in the run-up to a General Election.

The constituency is seen as one of the key marginals and has a long history of swinging back and forth between all three of the Island's parties.

All the by-elections held in the last 18 months -- in Devonshire North, Paget East, Devonshire South and Pembroke West, have been held in party strongholds, unlike Hamilton East.

PLP insiders said Derrick Burgess, who stood in 1989 and came last out of five candidates, is the front-runner to be given a chance again as his taking over the leadership of the BIU has given him more public exposure.

But the winner of that tussle will likely face tough competition from the United Bermuda Party.

Veteran campaigner and Bermuda Telephone Company manager Francis Furbert, third in the 1993 General Election, has experience of fighting the seat.

But the UBP may wish to blood political newcomer Sen. Angelita Fox in advance of this year's General Election.

Both have been pencilled in to fight the seat for the Government party in the countrywide poll, which must be called by October.

Last night, Acting Premier Jerome Dill said a UBP candidate had not yet been chosen but an announcement would be made "very shortly''.

And he added that he was not surprised at Mr. Woolridge's resignation.

"Perhaps the timing has come as a surprise but we all knew his position was untenable,'' Mr. Dill said.

Rev. Woolridge, former pastor at Mount Zion AME church is currently in Bermuda, although he is now serving a Philadelphia congregation.

He quit the party to sit as an Independent in October last year after being convicted of a sex assault on a woman parishioner.

He was cleared after a one-day appeal hearing in Supreme Court in November, but remained an Independent.

Former Attorney General Saul Froomkin, however, who acted for the woman in the case, has already said he will appeal that ruling in the Court of Appeal, probably in March.

Yesterday PLP insiders said the process is already underway to select a would-be successor -- but the pace will have to be quickened after Mr.

Woolridge's decision to go.

It is understood that Mr. Woolridge, although no longer a PLP MP, kept the local branch informed and gave them prior warning of his decision.

PLP activists have already been hitting the campaign trail in anticipation of a by-election.

Leader Jennifer Smith could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

But Deputy Opposition Leader Eugene Cox said: "We have been informed of his intentions -- we regret it, but that is his decision.

"I would say, in the absence of Ms Smith, we wish him every success in his future endeavours.'' Mr. Cox declined to comment on who might pick up the PLP banner in what will be the fourth by-election in the space of a few months.

He said: "In due course we will be making an announcement -- one doesn't want to be premature in these things.'' The PLP took both Hamilton East seats at the last General Election in 1993 -- taking one from the UBP and one from the National Liberal Party.

Topping the poll was Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Renee Webb, with 24.7 percent of the vote, followed by Mr. Woolridge with 24.1 percent.

Mr. Furbert trailed Mr. Woolridge by some 84 votes with 20.7 percent of the vote.

Gilbert Darrell, who topped the poll for the NLP in 1989 with 23 percent of the vote, saw his share crash to ten percent and fifth place.

And Wendell Hollis, who replaced the successful 1989 UBP candidate Haskins Davis, notched up 20.4 percent -- just 0.6 per cent down on his predecessor, but only good enough to come in fourth in the six-horse race.

Smith to run again in Pembroke West: Page 3