Bean wins in a landslide; Premier Cox 'proud'

The PLP’s Marc Bean is the new MP for Warwick South Central.

Mr. Bean won 310 votes with the UBP’s Devrae Noel Simmons coming in second with 78 votes and BDA candidate Sylvan Richards third with 70 votes.

Former senator and junior minister for transport Mr. Bean had been firm favourite to win in the seat vacated by former Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.

The result was also a minor filip for the opposition United Bermuda Party who held off the challenge from the Democratic Alliance to retain second place as the two parties approximately split the percentage of voters who supported the UBP in the 2007 election.

The by-election had been viewed as a referendum on the future of the UBP with the Alliance claiming it was ready to usurp them as the official opposition.

But PLP voters showed loyalty to their party with the UBP’s unconventional candidate Devrae Noel-Simmons - a former bodybuilder — barely beating underwriter Mr Richards in the battle for second.

The result is a blow to the BDA who had expected a strong showing in their first election and the UBP. They appeared to split the UBP vote from the last election, so neither party can be happy as the PLP romped home to an easy victory.

Premier Paula Cox was jubilant to be adding Mr. Bean as a part of her team.

She said:"I look forward to our newest MP Mr. Marc Bean joining the PLP Government team and I congratulate him.

"He is a thinker, cares passionately about his community and connects with people. I consider him to be a worthy addition to the PLP Government team and am personally very pleased for him and proud of him and how he conducted himself. It took blood, sweat and tears.

"He has earned his spurs and I know that he knows that there is much work to be done and is ready, willing and able to do his part."