A decade ago, Marc Bean was the enfant terrible of Bermudian politics. He was propelled to the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party, then the Opposition, after the shock One Bermuda Alliance election victory in December 2012, and lost no time in launching attack grenades at the new, inexperienced government.

“I was aggressive,” the veteran politician and Free Democratic Movement leader now concedes.

Such was his impulse that, during one House of Assembly session in March 2015, he was suspended from Parliament for a week after he threatened to “take out” government MPs.

Mr Bean, 50, said last week that he was more mature than he was a decade ago, more measured.

“I admit that there's a lot of things, in hindsight, that I could have changed. I could have adjusted the way I approached it,” he said, referring to his four-year term as Opposition leader that lasted until November 2016.

Mr Bean added: “Some people loved me and some people hated me. But I've learnt over time that aggression is not necessary all of the time.”

The former firebrand politician still has fire in his belly — enough so that he will be contesting the October 4 by-election in Sandys North for the party that he founded in September 2020 after David Burt, the Premier, announced a snap election to be held the following month.

The seat became vacant in August when Kathy-Lynn Simmons, then a government MP and recently resigned Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, unexpectedly stood down despite holding a strong majority.

Asked if he was confident that he could overturn that majority, Mr Bean was pragmatic.

He said: “We have to be confident entering any race. What’s the purpose of entering any race if you think you’re going to lose?

“We also have to be realistic and humble, recognising that, no matter how well you run the race, the finish line is determined by the electorate. But we are confident that we have the strength, the willingness and the ability to run a good race to the finish line.“

Mr Bean is one of four candidates who plan to contend Sandys North.

His opponents are government senator Emily Gail Dill, as well as political newcomers Carl Neblett for the OBA and independent candidate Ci’re Bean.

Mr Bean agreed, when asked by The Royal Gazette, that he had the highest public profile among the competing quartet because of his political pedigree and experience in public life.

In the past 15 years he has been a government senator, an MP, a Cabinet minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.

“I’ve served in every constitutional capacity apart from being the Premier of the country,” he said.

“I think that should be seen as a strength and not a weakness.”

However, he cautioned: “Profile and experience are not determining factors of quality.

“You can have people with less experience, but because of their character or the way they conduct themselves and think and act, they can bring something to the table that is something of a higher substance than the person with just more experience.”

Mr Bean and his team have been canvassing the constituency in recent weeks and are confident they can meet face-to-face with all households before the vote is held next month.

Opponents have previously questioned just how “hands-on” Mr Bean would be in the constituency should he win.

His wife and young family live in the US, while he has business interested in the Caribbean and other jurisdictions.

Mr Bean dismissed those concerns but has been clearly affected by them.

Becoming emotional when he discussed his roots and young family, he pointed out that he was born and raised on Spring Benny Road — a cricket ball’s throw away from the constituency that he now hopes to represent.

While he does have overseas obligations, he insisted he is a Bermudian committed to representing his community and country. He has not left the island since the start of this year.

Brushing away tears, Mr Bean said: “I have to be able to be a man and a husband and a father first. I can’t help others if I can't help myself first, and my family is a part of me.

“The relationship that I'm looking to seek and foster with the public is going to call for understanding. Even though I have to travel, that doesn't mean that Bermuda is not my home.”

Earlier, Mr Bean summed up the point more succinctly when asked if, as the leader of a political party and a potential sitting MP, he would be distracted by national concerns rather than focusing on parochial issues within his constituency.

“We can chew gum and walk at the same time,” he said.

He emphasised his argument further by stressing that local issues were also national issues.

As the father of three young children he is passionate about education and sees it as the solution to other social problems such as crime and unemployment.

Mr Bean condemned government plans to close certain primary schools and argued that “mishandling“ of the issue in Somerset — where the Government had initially earmarked one school for closure but then flip-flopped following a wave of protest — had ”harmed the psyche of the people in the West End“.

He said: “They did a 180-degree turn without any rationale. That arbitrary approach to government is not good government.

“What we have seen is a disrespect by the Government by attempting to divide and rule. But the people of Somerset are not only unified over Cup Match — they're unified 365 days a year.”

Asked about a perceived slide in support for the Government, Mr Bean — without mentioning names — said: “I think there has definitely been a downward trajectory of governance and leadership in the last few years.

“Yes, this current Government can improve. I would love to see them improve and also see the OBA improve. It makes for better governance.

“That's one of the strengths we can bring to the table if elected to Parliament.

“While being one MP doesn't mean much, we can bring to bear a lot of influence that is positive and uplifting to the country as a whole.

“When opportunity presents itself, an FDM MP will do their best to help the Government to improve the way it governs.

“What else can a single seat MP do but to help and try and uplift?”