of the Island's two main political parties.

NLP chairman Mr. Geoff Parker will take on Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan in Paget East, while veteran Parliamentarian Mr. Austin Thomas will run against Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade in Devonshire North.

"These are our top two candidates,'' said NLP Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell.

"We're going to put them in areas where we've never really tried before.'' The "safe'' United Bermuda Party and Progressive Labour Party constituencies tended to be taken for granted, and "we want to break that mould'', Mr.

Darrell said.

Yesterday's announcement brought the number of NLP candidates to seven, with an eighth to be named on Tuesday.

Mr. Parker, 49, who was born in Paget, is managing director and president of Bermuda Waterproof and Painting Company, as well as Parker Ltd.

A prominent golfer and athlete, Mr. Parker organised the Petition Against Government Spending two years ago and joined the NLP in 1992.

A proponent of smaller Government and a payroll tax system to replace hospital levy and employment tax, Mr. Parker also favours tougher measures against crime and drugs.

He and his wife Elizabeth have two grown sons.

Mr. Thomas, 59, first elected to the House of Assembly in Pembroke East in 1968, was one of six PLP members expelled from the party in 1984. A founding member of the NLP in 1985, he was defeated in Pembroke East in 1989.

He grew up in Deep Dale and after studies abroad taught music at Prospect Secondary School for Girls and was Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers president.

A pianist and choir director at the Evening Light Pentecostal Church, Mr.

Thomas is a life underwriter for Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada. He and his wife Eula have two grown daughters.

Mr. Thomas said he was concerned about the quality of life in Bermuda and wanted to see less confrontation between political parties.

Mr. Austin Thomas.