Senators Kim Wilson, Marc Bean and David Burch are said to lead a long list of Progressive Labour Party members hoping to fill the gap Premier Ewart Brown will leave in Warwick South Central.

Sen. Wilson, the Attorney General, confirmed her interest yesterday, and while Sen. Bean and Sen. Burch declined to comment, party sources say they are likely front runners.

Party chairman, Warwick-based Anthony Santucci, is also said to be in the frame, along with Dale Young who made the news as the wife of Paul Young, "the man with the golden paintbrush" during the Bermuda Housing Corporation affair.

Former AG Phil Perinchief yesterday confirmed he would be handing in his application before today's deadline of 5 p.m.

"There's been a tremendous amount of interest," said party spokesman Wentworth Christopher yesterday.

Sen. Bean and Sen. Burch have both consistently been linked with constituencies in Southampton; Sen. Burch is said to have been keen on the Southampton East seat some believe Speaker Stanley Lowe could retire from, while Sen. Bean is White Hill club president and fought unsuccessfully in Southampton West Central twice.

However, it's thought both would be interested in moving a few miles east for a chance in Dr. Brown's Constituency 26, widely considered a PLP stronghold.

Sen. Wilson is deemed the likeliest replacement for retiring Sandys South Central MP Walter Lister, but says she is willing to have a shot at any vacancies that come up.

Mr. Christopher said yesterday: "The PLP is in the process of identifying candidates following the resignation of Premier Ewart Brown. The internal process for the candidate selection will commence after the deadline for applications."

The by-election will take place in November, when Dr. Brown quits as an MP at the end of his four-year stint as Premier.

The United Bermuda Party will contest the seat, but Bermuda Democratic Alliance is weighing its options.

A UBP spokesman said: "The United Bermuda Party has every intention of contesting Constituency 26, vigorously.

"We're looking forward to it. The recent primary in number 28 swelled our membership rolls, indicating voters want change.

"We know they are tired of the way things are and deeply concerned that Bermuda is not working as well as it can. They want better representation and a more responsive, competent and responsible Government.

"We have people who have expressed interest in standing forward in Warwick. The final decision on who that will be is in the hands of our Warwick committee."

Roderick Simons lost to Dr. Brown by 562 votes to 252 in the General Election of December 2007. He was overlooked in favour of Jeff Sousa to represent the UBP in Warwick West in June, and is a possible contender once more, along with Warwick-based Senator Jeanne Atherden, who also lost to Mr. Sousa.

BDA chairman Michael Fahy said the Alliance is polling the area, saying: "It's important to put a candidate forward if it looks as if there's a real opportunity to win. But I don't want someone to go there as a lamb to the slaughter. It doesn't make sense."

The PLP is also lining up its candidates in marginals St. George's West and St. George's South. Former UBP MP Jamahl Simmons, the Premier's press secretary, is expected to push in St. George's West, with Mr. Perinchief and Pastor Leroy Bean mentioned for St. George's South.