If it were up to Dean Jones and Daveon McKenzie, their contribution to the local government election swould probably only be to cast their ballot. But after coaxing from members in their communities, the men decided to toss their hats in the ring and contend for seats in the St Thomas Parish Council.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) newcomers are confident they have the ability to represent the people well.

Jones, who is hoping to represent the Yallahs Division and unseat Constantine Bogle, is confident that his involvement in prior developmental projects will solidify his bid.

“The entire division of Yallahs called to ask me to represent them. I was president for several youth clubs here and I was part of the Civil Committee of Yallahs, and I was a part of everything that is happening development-wise in Yallahs… as such, they know my potential, they know what I can do and they asked me to represent them and I will do so,” Jones, a businessman, stated.

In an effort to underscore his continued contribution to the community, Jones revealed that he was called to politics before by Rosemarie Shaw when she ran on a People’s National Party (PNP) ticket. However, he refused.

His reason?

“Because I was born and bred as a Labourite, so I have to represent my party at the highest level,” he explained.

McKenzie is vying to represent the people of White Horses Division and told the

Jamaica Observer he is banking on his relationship with the community to defeat Hubert Williams of the PNP.

“First and foremost, it was the people of Western St Thomas, mainly the White Horses Division, based on my track record, [who] saw that I am the most suitable person as a young person,” McKenzie, a teacher at Paul Bogle High School in the parish, said.

“I am a teacher, so education will have to come first and foremost. Proper representation of the White Horses Division, that has been lacking for the past five-and-a-half years. The things that the parish council should be doing – I’ve taken my notes and everything – street lights, the cleaning of drains, and all those things… these are my primary concerns,” McKenzie said.

Asked how he’ll balance the demands of teacher and councillor, he said he would delegate.

“First of all, as a teacher everything has a chain of command — from the Ministry of Education, the chairman to the principal to the senior teachers. I am a person who can’t do everything. What I’ll have to do is delegate with my workers, supervise my executive team of cluster supervisors, my indoor, my outdoor, and the runners, those are the most vibrant persons to do everything. So I will delegate tasks ahead to fulfil the needs of everything and I will make sure everything is overseen,” the educator noted.

The St Thomas Parish Council is currently dominated by the PNP. Of the 10 divisions, only three JLP councillors successfully earned a place in the 2012 election.

But despite this ratio, JLP candidates are optimistic that the scale will be tipped in their favour on November 28.

“After the 28th it is Councillor McKenzie,” the White Horses hopeful told an official from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica after he was nominated on November 11.