FIVE hundred and three delegates are expected to vote in today’s candidate selection exercise to determine who will represent the governing People’s National Party (PNP) in the St Andrew East Rural constituency in the next general election.

The run-off, involving incumbent Member of Parliament Damion Crawford and businessman Peter Blake, is slated to take place at the party’s Old Hope Road headquarters in St Andrew.

The discontent within the constituency emerged after Crawford announced that he would not be seeking re-election. Crawford admitted that he was not convinced at the time of his announcement that the style of politics he brought to the constituency would propel him to victory at the polls. He later made an about-turn, saying that his earlier announcement was a trick.

At least one councillor, Oliver Clue (Harbour View Division), has openly opposed Crawford’s management of the rural constituency. But, on Thursday, the dread-locked MP told the Jamaica Observer that he is confident that the majority of the votes will be in his favour.

“We have the votes. More people appreciate what we do than not,” he said, adding that the campaign had been going well.

Blake, when contacted, said he was also confident of victory.

“We are prepared and very confident,” he said, while declining to comment on the stewardship of the first-time MP, instead citing, “The delegates will speak on the MP’s stewardship.”

Crawford is the last among several PNP members of parliament being challenged for their candidacy.

In the December 2011 General Election Crawford polled 9,634 to defeat the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Joan Gordon-Webley (9,375). Webley has since crossed the political floor and is rumoured to be assisting with Crawford’s campaign.

The seat was previously won by the JLP’s Joseph Hibbert in 2002 and 2007; the PNP’s Oliver Clue in 1993 and 1997; the PNP’s E G Barrett in 1989; and Gordon-Webley in 1980.