Political newcomer Nicholas Kempe, 29, was rolled out yesterday as the candidate who will stand for the One Bermuda Alliance in Constituency 18 — Pembroke West Central.OBA leader Craig Cannonier introduced the new candidate as part of the “OBA new generation who is looking to steer Bermuda onto better, calmer waters”.“I trust in this young man to lead this country to a better way,” said Mr Cannonier. “And like his colleagues, Nick believes good government starts with the strongest possible bond between the people and the Government that they choose.“That means keeping in touch and he is already out there on the doorstep on a regular basis ensuring that Bermuda understands and he understands the pathway that Bermuda wishes to go.”Mr Kempe said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to represent the people of Pembroke West Central, the constituency where I live.” He grew up in Pembroke and since his return to Bermuda has lived “in the North Shore area west of Blackwatch Pass”.“My home is on Tablerock Avenue, near West Pembroke Primary, where I live with my wife and my sister,” said Mr Kempe. The former Saltus student at the age of 17 decided to “complete his last year before college at a high school in Spain”.He went on to obtain two degrees including a Masters in Business Administration and Economics, and worked at a hotel before returning home. Mr Kempe is currently employed at Bermuda Forwarders as Vice President.“I decided to get into politics to do what I can to help get Bermuda working again. I have been watching people lose their jobs, people struggling with financial hardship and way too many people losing hope in this great Island,” he said.“I believe the current government has run its course. The Government and its Ministers have been more about themselves than the people, and that is a recipe for bad government. I joined the One Bermuda Alliance because it offers Bermuda new hope.”When asked to expand on what he’s hearing from area residents on the recent murder committed at a barber shop close to his area, Mr Kempe said he talked to a neighbour who used to get his haircut at Jason’s Barbershop.“He doesn’t feel safe going there and it’s a shame that these sort of things affect not only the families, the people immediately involved and the neighbours but the businesses and livelihoods of far more people in the community.“They are tired of worrying about riding home alone at night, their wives, their sisters, their daughters. A lot of people are afraid of driving around alone wondering if they’re children are going to be home, needing to check in all the time, needing to lock their doors and it’s a shame,” he said.“I remember growing up when I could leave my door open at night for a breeze and unfortunately that is no longer the case. Mainly it’s the safety, it’s the fear, I never had that. Just worrying about going out on the town at night, if there’s going to be a fight, is someone going to get shot or stabbed its saddening,” said Mr Kempe.“I plan to keep getting out to talk to my neighbours, my constituents understanding what their issues are. A lot of times the neighbours at one end of the street and those at the other complain about the same problem but their looking at it from different perspectives and being able to speak to everyone you could find a common ground.”It was also noted that “it was his education in economics that spurred him to become involved in politics” because he believes “Bermuda’s debt level is not sustainable.“Bermuda is in deep trouble unless we make a change very soon,” he said.Mr Kempe will contend for the seat against the Progressive Labour Party’s Junior Minister of Finance David Burt who beat out the incumbent Neletha Butterfield in a PLP primary election last October. It was a third round of voting for the branch, two earlier votes ended in a tie.