Kim Swan joins the House of Assembly as a Member of Parliament next month, almost 25 years to the day he first ran as a candidate for the then-governing United Bermuda Party (UBP).

Mr. Swan won his St. George's West seat by a narrow margin of 17 votes, over Progressive Labour Party (PLP) MP Dean Foggo in the December 18 General Election.

It was his fourth attempt, a tale of perseverance that the fledgling MP hopes will inspire young Bermudians interested in making a difference in their community.

"I was reading literature by another candidate who ran six times over 17 years in order to get in and it caused me to think," he said as he considered events that ensured him a seat in Parliament when it reconvenes on February 1.

"On February 3, 1983, I first ran for Sandys South. Almost a year to the day that I stood at the polls at (the age of) 25, I will go to the House of Assembly ¿ at 50 years and four months. To me, it's very prophetic.

"This last election made it four attempts in 25 years. And that encouraged me on the campaign trail because I remember that first time vividly."

The MP, who is also a leading golfer, said he was the youngest Bermudian ever to run for government in 1983 ¿ a status that was stripped off him by a matter of months by Gavin Smith, who ran in 2003 under the Gombey Liberation Party in St. George's North at the age of 24.

"I always have been politically inclined," he said of his initial interest. "At Warwick Sec (now TN Tatem Middle School), I served on the Youth Parliament. The principal at that time, Winton Williams, and his deputy Roderick Pearman, identified me as someone who could represent the school in Youth Parliament. I thank them for taking an interest in me and seeing something I didn't see in myself at the time."

The experience exposed Mr. Swan to a common practice in his family as relatives on both his father's and his mother's side were deeply entrenched in local politics.

"Sir George and Stanley Ratteray, the Burrows family and Walter Brangman were all close cousins of my father and mother," he said. "So I had many role models on both sides of the House and I grew a respect for persons in politics and what they had to offer no matter where they stood."

The former Opposition Senator said he also gained invaluable advice from more experienced politicians such as former UBP MP Ralph Marshall, who invited him to work for the Southampton West branch offices in the 1970s. A decade later, he decided to run for Sandys South, a PLP stronghold. Despite that loss, he has been involved in politics ever since.

"I very easily could have been a young candidate who went into a safe area and been out of politics by now," he said of his determination to avoid the easy route to Parliament.

"After '83 I took a hiatus and worked at the branch level. Ralph Marshall's advice to me in the '80s, when I was at a political crossroad, was, 'Let yourself be defined for what you stand for ¿ write letters to the editor, get on the radio'. I became more of a political activist. The Premier's name was (Sir John) Swan and I felt it important that people knew who I was and what I believed."

Although raised in the West End of the island, Mr. Swan decided to run in St. George's when he put his name forward as a candidate in 1998.

"I'd worked in St. George's, at Castle Harbour, since 1980 and I moved to St. George's in 1985," he explained. "It took some time for the community to become familiar with me and me with them.

"In the mid-'90s I thought there had been a reasonable amount of time and decided to throw my hat into the political arena as I wasn't a transient and had become entrenched. In '98 I ran for St. George's North when the PLP (first became) Government. Mine was the only UBP constituency to have made gains and certainly for me, in that election I saw signs that my hard work was paying off.

"I soldiered on in 2003 to a disappointing loss by 22 votes. And this time won by almost an equal amount of votes. The tide turned in my favour.

"To now have contested an election in a very difficult seat ¿ some call it marginal ¿ held by the PLP, and win, is very satisfying.

"It's a story of perseverance, particularly for young people. Sometimes you need to get involved. At 25 it was an eye-opener for me to walk into people's homes and have them ask me questions about where I stood on issues.

"I can look back now and see how difficult that is for a young person until (they) truly (have) a grasp of Bermuda. That caused me to learn more about Bermuda, to get more plugged into the community and get an appreciation for what would best serve the community."

The recent election result ¿ which returns the PLP to Parliament with 22 seats and the Opposition with 14 as before ¿ was "bittersweet", Mr. Swan said.

However, rather than dwell on the loss, or the much-ballyhooed suggestion that the UBP disband, the MP said he prefers to focus on what he can do for the community and his constituents.

"I am very excited (about my win) although certainly disappointed in the party's result. For me, it sent a lot of messages ¿ that you don't change your fortune overnight, that it takes time to build confidence, that you have to be patient and you have to have stick-to-it-ive-ness.

"I knew, having seen the amount of times (PLP MP and former Premier) Dame Jennifer Smith ran, that people in the community are prepared to reward persons who stick to the wicket and that there was a very good possibility it could happen to myself.

"In a similar vein I served nine years in the Senate prior to becoming elected, so the people did have a record to judge me off. I was dealing with pertinent issues both nationally and locally in a way they could feel confident having me represent them."

The MP expressed hope that his success will serve as a message to young people concerned with Bermuda's economic development.

"I do feel my success at the polls can be seen as an encouragement, particularly to young people out there who have questions about the Bermuda they live in today.

"There's an economic divide now that's scary. It's making living outside Bermuda possibly more attractive. Ten dollars doesn't go as far ¿ and I'm not talking about 20 years ago, I'm talking about five. I want to encourage young people to get involved, as it's the only way to make the country work for all of us.

"My advice to all Bermudians is to keep an open mind, stay focused and keep the end in view if fighting for a better Bermuda.

"After 25 years, my election is bitter-sweet having seen hardworking colleagues fall by the wayside. But having been in that position I know that sometimes a setback is an opportunity for a comeback ¿ it's advice that was given to me by someone who felt I needed it and I've applied it both professionally and politically."