Recently elected Councillor Charles Gosling announced his candidacy for the Mayor of Hamilton yesterday.

Mr. Gosling — who ran for the position of Councillor in the city's by-elections last July — said he felt the Corporation needs strong leadership in light of the Government's announcement it planned on closing the "impractical" and "unwieldily" institution down.

He is the third contender to announce that they intend to run for the top post.

Mr. Gosling said: "After having served as councillor for less than one year, I do not take this announcement lightly. Given what the Corporation will face over the next two years, we must continue to build on these strengths. Without a doubt the challenge today is to develop a meaningful and determined response to the position recently stated by Government, setting out their yet to be determined plan to abolish the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's.

"Now is the time to elect those who can bring an already united team to the Corporation, create a close alliance with St. George's, with the intent of working together with Government for those necessary changes in the Municipalities Act, expanding the voter base, furthering better governance, whilst protecting the underlying role of both Corporations."

Mr. Gosling is managing director and vice-president of marketing at Gosling Brothers Ltd and has worked at the family firm since 1983.

He is also a past President of Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, former director of Bermuda Alliance for Tourism and has been a member of the Board of Education and Small Business Development Corporation, among other bodies.

Two weeks ago Minister without Portfolio Walter Roban told the House of Assembly the Government planned to repeal the Municipalities Act 1923 and transfer the corporations operations to Government. He added that it was "impractical" and "unwieldy" to have competing arms of government on a small Island.

Despite the Minister's statement the Corporation of Hamilton is still planning to hold its city election on July 16.

Councillor Kathryn Gibbons and former Deputy Mayor Sonia Grant have also announced their intentions to run for the position of Mayor. The current Mayor Sutherland Madeiros has announced he will not stand for Mayor in the upcoming election.