The pending by-election in North Abaco will be a race between the two major political parties, said Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate Renardo Curry, who downplayed any possible threat from independent challenger Cay Mills.
His comments came days after Mills, who was unsuccessful in his bid to become the Free National Movement's pick for the by-election, said he planned to run as an independent candidate.
Last week the FNM's Central Council selected Greg Gomez as their standard bearer for the area. He was chosen over Mills; Jackson McIntosh, a former Cooper's Town administrator, and Perry Thomas, who lives in Fox Town, North Abaco.
On Friday, Mills hit out at retiring North Abaco MP and former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who he said handpicked Gomez to succeed him. Mills also announced his plans to run in the election on his own.
Yesterday Curry said while Mills, a taxi driver who lives in North Abaco, has some support in the constituency, he does not think that will translate into a win.
"He's [Mills] popular in the area, in Dundas Town in particular, so I think he would do fairly well there but as far as base voters I think we are still going to get our numbers out of Dundas Town that we are anticipating getting. Overall I think when it's all said and done I've campaigned long enough to feel the people will give me an opportunity to serve them.
"For Abaco in particular it's always been a two party seat, either FNM or PLP. Mr. Ingraham was the only one able to do that independent in the late 80s, make the North Abaco seat independent, but I don't know if any other candidate at this point and time is able to do that."
FNM Chairman Charles Maynard said he was surprised that Mills has decided to run against the party's pick. Still he said the party will do all it can to ensure that Gomez wins the by-election.
"We're focused on our campaign. Mr. Mills had committed himself to supporting who ever was the successful candidate, so we were surprised to see his comments in the paper. However that will not deter us, we will stay focused on making sure Greg Gomez is exposed to the people. We believe he will be successful at the end of the day."
S. Ali McIntosh, servant leader of the Bahamas Constitution Party, is also expected to run in the by-election.
Ingraham was elected as the representative for North Abaco eight consecutive times; once as an independent, twice as a PLP candidate and five times as an FNM candidate.

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