Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt retired yesterday but denied claims it was because Lawson Mapp had decided to stand again for Mayor.

Mr. Sherratt said he announced his retirement plans three months ago and was due to leave in September but stayed to oversee Thursday's election nominations.

Acting Corporation Secretary Kelly Miller is widely tipped to take Mr. Sherratt's post which carries a six-figure salary.

The Royal Gazette understands three Corporation members stood down in protest when Mr. Mapp decided to run again rather than give David White a clear run.

The three are Mr. White, Tommy Dickenson and Jay Bluck.

Mr. Dickenson admitted he was not happy with Mr. Mapp and said he would have remained if Mr. Mapp had not run again.

One Corporation insider said there had been an acrimonious atmosphere in the council chamber in the last few months which had never existed before and claimed Mr. Sherratt had left because Mr. Mapp was trying to stay on.

He said: "It's pretty nasty. I think the Corporation could be better served.

"In the past ten months he (Mayor Mapp) has created an awful lot of problems."

But he predicted Mr. Mapp would easily beat challenger Graeme Outerbridge because he had a solid support from the back of town. "That's too bad, it's a sad situation," said the source.

The insider was quick to deny reports claiming there was any racial element in the Mapp/White tension.

"It has to do with the man himself not being a good mayor."The insider said Mr. Mapp was good at socialising but had no business sense.

Mr. Mapp said he was sad about the current situation but said Mr. White should have stood for election and let the voters decide who they wanted.

He said: "Yesterday was nomination day. I have never been afraid of a ballot paper. Obviously Mr. White didn't want to be on one."

Mr. Mapp said it was possible Mr. Sherratt could return to do a PR post although he said a PR firm might be given the job of handling Corporation communications. He said of Mr. Sherratt's departure: "I didn't tell him to go."

Mr. Sherratt said he was looking forward to his retirement after 11 years in the job.

Asked about successes in his time he listed improvements in North Hamilton but said traffic had been the biggest headache and said it was time Reid Street was pedestrianised.

Mr. Mapp said if elected he wanted to knock down number one passenger shed and replace it with a purpose-built passenger terminal with shops and coffee houses offering sea views.