With four MPs representing Smith's Parish constituencies, the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) candidate selection for the new constituencies named after the parish will likely turn up some new faces.

Under the now defunct dual seat system there are two constituencies in Smith's, both solidly held by the UBP - Smith's North, represented by Allan Marshall and Cole Simons, and Smith's South represented by Trevor Moniz and Maxwell Burgess.

Redistricting has created three single-seat constituencies named after the parish, only one of which, Smith's South (number 8) is wholly within the parish.

Of the two others, Smith's North (number 10) and Smith's West (number 9), Smith's North could be the least desirable for any UBP candidate, since it cuts into a substantial section of the former Devonshire North which has long been held by the Progressive Labour Party.

A fourth constituency (number 7), called Hamilton South crosses the border into Hamilton Parish, all of which is represented by PLP party MPs.

Incumbents as a rule would want to stay as close as possible to the constituency they know best.

Given the new configurations, MPs Maxwell Burgess, Allan Marshall, Cole Simons and Trevor Moniz would all likely pick the new Smith's South as their first choice.

While Mr. Moniz is said to be popular in Smith's South, he was only recently readmitted to the party whip and is still considered a bit of a wild card by the party hierarchy and may have to defer to the wishes of his colleagues in the area.

Mr. Burgess, his running mate, may be the party's pick for Smith's South, but he could easily go for a constituency in Hamilton where he lives, while Mr. Marshall could reasonably run in Smith's West (number nine) (where he grew up) - much of which runs into the old Smith's North - or the neighbouring Devonshire East (number 11) which has been carved out of parts of the old Devonshire South and reaches into parts of Devonshire North. Mr. Moniz will likely have to settle for either number nine or 11, while the new Smith's North will go to one of the new UBP candidates.

The party is still going through the candidate selection process and has made no announcements regarding Smith's.

UBP candidates in general aren't telling about their ambitions, instead responding with the stock party line:

"I've always been a loyal party member. I will serve faithfully where ever I'm asked to go," said Maxwell Burgess.

He wouldn't buy into the idea of safe seats, saying such assumptions amount to "flirting with treachery".

Mr. Marshall said pretty much the same thing. He has been canvassing all over Smith's, except for Smith's West which happens to be in the area he grew up in. And the new Smith's North doesn't scare him.

"I used to run all over Devonshire when I was a little kid. They called it Billy Goat Hill in the old days. And I didn't play for Cougars or Devonshire Colts, but I did play for North Village."

Mr. Simons could settle for Hamilton South or Hamilton West, depending on where former party chairman Wayne Furbert wants to go.