Thirty-year-old Andrew Simons yesterday followed his father into the political arena as he was unveiled as the One Bermuda Alliance’s candidate for Pembroke Central.A risk analyst for the Arch Capital Group and Bermuda Regiment officer, Mr Simons is the son of former United Bermuda Party MP Gerald Simons, Bermuda’s longest serving Education Minister.He will go head to head with former Progressive Labour Party Senator Walton Brown at the next general election, for the seat being vacated after 14 years by National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief.Mr Simons, who was 13 when his father left politics, told The Royal Gazette: “My biggest memory of politics was my father being up at five o’clock in the morning, reading, or just doing the work that needed doing.“I know people are cynical about politicians, but I have seen how difficult it is, and how much work it really is, especially when people are in Cabinet, to understand the issues.“Did that put me off? It’s certainly given me pause for thought.“But I don’t need money or status or for people to salute me. One of the things people forget is that politics is about choice, and you hope to do things because they benefit the people of Bermuda.”Gerald Simons was a UBP Warwick MP from 1985 to 1993, and a Senator from 1993 to 1995. He was Education Minister from 1986 to 1993, and Environment Minister from 1993 to 1995.Some in the PLP have dubbed the OBA a reincarnation of the UBP which lost three successive general elections and has struggled to shake off the tag of an elitist white party.Andrew Simons argued he has seen major differences between the UBP and the OBA, saying he turned down an offer from leader Kim Swan to join the former some years ago, but was happy to join the OBA.“I think Bermuda could do better. If we want Bermuda to do better, we need a new Government,” he said.“I think the UBP long ago stopped being a viable vehicle for people to express their political preferences. It just wasn’t doing it.“Because the OBA is new, I can go and force discussions that are uncomfortable. I’m happy to talk about race and class in a way I don’t know the UBP was ready to.“I think they got stuck. A lot of people in the UBP might have been ready to change but couldn’t do it in the UBP. It’s hard to say. So much comes down to getting good people.”At yesterday’s roll-out at OBA headquarters, Mr Simons said he would reach out to young people in a constituency which has suffered gang problems, with a 17-year-old girl injured in a shooting at Western Stars Sports two years ago.Mr Simons, who grew up in Spanish Point, said the community needs a family-orientated attitude to tackle violence.“I have come from great privilege, I’m perfectly open about that,” he said, noting his extensive education thanks to his parents’ success in business.“But at the same time I went to West Pembroke Primary and they are my group of friends.“My greatest privilege was that I have seen many people looking out for me when I’ve grown up, not just good parents but neighbours, teachers, folks that saw me shoplifting and called my parents instead of the police.”Mr Simons also said Government needs to spend on infrastructure to tackle notorious flooding problems in the Mill Creek area.