Jeff Baron, a 36-year-old former police officer, was announced yesterday as the One Bermuda Alliance’s general election candidate for Pembroke South East.

Mr Baron, whose family homestead is in the constituency, will be up against the ruling party’s Rolfe Commissiong, and Raymond Davis who is running as an independent.

“I am taking this step to help bring change to Bermuda, change to safer communities; change that better educates our children; change that creates jobs for everyone who wants one, and change for representation that is always available, always listening and always prepared to speak and fight for the needs of this community,” said Mr Baron.

“I was born here in Bermuda. My family’s home, built by my great-grandfather, still stands proudly on Happy Valley Road.

“Throughout my life, I have served Bermuda and her people. I have represented her internationally on two United Nations’ peacekeeping missions, as a Sergeant in the Bermuda Police Service during disaster relief efforts in Grand Cayman and as an athlete.”

Mr Baron is the only Bermudian to have ever served on a UN peacekeeping force.

He made much of that service at yesterday’s press conference, saying working for the UN in Kosovo had left a lasting impression on him.

“When I reflect on my time in Kosovo, I think of people struggling and working hard for a better life.

“It reminds me how we must move forward together to overcome division — improving our communities through unity and empowerment,” Mr Baron said.

He later earned a master’s degree in criminology, he said, in order to “better understand the causes of violence and crime”.

“I wanted to look at Bermuda’s problems in a different way, through a social lens. This culminated with an eight-month research project in North Hamilton, studying national crime prevention projects.

“I met many residents and stakeholders of Pembroke South East, some of whom I am delighted to call friends.

“They welcomed me into their homes and told me about their lives. I came to understand that, in many ways, this vibrant community has suffered remarkably over the years.

“My research had a practical purpose, and I was subsequently invited to make a presentation to the ‘Horton Committee’ on Gang Violence and Gun Crime in January 2012.”

Mr Baron promised to “knock on every door” in the constituency.

“I am going to take the message that we need to engage and we need to empower each other and we need to have conversations; honest conversations.”

Asked how he felt about his chances of winning the seat, Mr Baron said: “I am committed. Today is about being committed to the people of Pembroke South East. Part of that commitment is staying focused on their issues.

“I will not be distracted by conversations about what other parties are doing.”

The MP for the area is currently Ashfield DeVent but he lost out to Mr Commissiong in the candidate selection contest last year.

Yesterday’s announcement brings to 26 the number of candidates to be rolled out by the OBA.

The Progressive Labour Party has unveiled 31 candidates.

In the 2007 election Mr DeVent prevailed against the United Bermuda Party’s Tillman Darrell with a 274 vote majority.