Kenneth Bascome is to run as the OBA candidate for St George’s North and could continue as mayor should he win a seat in Parliament.Opposition leader Craig Cannonier said the party’s lawyers had examine the Bermuda Constitution and concluded it was possible to hold both posts.His comments were made at a press conference to formally announce that Mr Bascome would run in Constituency One against ruling party candidate Dame Jennifer Smith.Election to Parliament would put him in a “stronger position to help the community of St George’s”, Mr Bascome said.His top two promises for the area are a “fully functioning” police station and a “fully functioning” fire station.“There are many issues in the Town of St George that I believe have been neglected over the years,” he said.“I have an integral understanding of what is required in the Town of St George, gained through some 18 years’ service with the Corporation of St George’s. I’ve operated businesses in the town of St George.“I have worked with young people through the clubs and through the prisons and most of you would be well aware that I believe that we need to take a new focus when it comes to dealing with our young people going astray.”The number one priority for Government should be a long-term plan to replace the Causeway, said Mr Bascome.He touted what he called “nostalgia tourism” as a way to revitalise the Old Town and boost Bermuda’s overall tourism product.And he said that Government had not taken advantage of the fact that St George’s is a World Heritage Site.“I don’t believe that has been used as a marketing tool to help create a buzz for tourism,” he said.“I believe that Bermuda is still a special place and we just need to focus on our core markets and I believe we can get back on track.”Government had also not done enough to assist developers who are able to bring more hotel beds to Bermuda, he said.Mr Bascome also expressed confidence that developer Carl Bazarian would deliver a new hotel to the East End.He said he had met with the developer and told him that he was “not the guy to play games with”.“He made a commitment to me and I have to believe the commitment that he has made.”His confidence in the hotel project should not be taken as an endorsement of the Government’s approach, Mr Bascome stated.“I’ve met with Mr Bazarian on numerous occasions when he has come to the Island and he hasn’t spoken to Government.”The mayor promised that “something will be done” about the town’s sewage problem if he is elected to Government. “We will no longer be pumping raw sewage into the ocean.”Mr Cannonier described Mr Bascome’s candidacy as a “celebration for St George’s”.As to his chances of winning the seat held by the former Premier, Mr Bascome noted that his vote count head increased each time he stood for election to the St George’s City Council.His opponent ran in six elections before she succeeded, he added.Mr Cannonier described him as having an “endless amount of energy and passion” for St George’s and as a personal friend.In response to questions, he said that he had only floated an idea of charging a toll to use the Causeway.But, he added that the Causeway had to be replaced eventually.“St George’s is the heart and the spine of Bermuda,” he said.Mr Bascome’s candidacy has been the worst kept secret of the political scene in recent months.Asked why the announcement had not been made earlier, Mr Cannonier said that nothing would have been gained.“He’s already well known in St George’s and St George’s has shown its support in re-electing him as mayor,” Mr Cannonier said.“His popularity and his ability to get things done has already been established. So there was no downside to not rolling him out earlier.”