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This evening, in Port Loyola, though, it wasn't about the small promises; it was about the big show that four time Representative Boots Martinez put on to send a message that - despite a close call in the last general election - he still runs things in the Port. We challenged him on that. Jules Vasquez has the story:...

Jules Vasquez reporting
Rolling down the Jane Usher Boulevard, Boots Martinez and the UDP Slate were shored up by a throng of campaigners. It's a show of mass party muscle pure and simple, a function of money and machinery - key ingredients in any election:

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"This is the most inefficient way to campaign. But it's the most efficient way to show off. Is that what this is about?"

Hon. Boots Martinez
"Well no, it's not the most inefficient way to campaign. This is an efficient way to campaign. This we call this a sweep. All captains are out on the ground. There are all our supporters."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But election is a month way. There is really no need for you to be showing this sort of muscle on the street."

Hon. Boots Martinez
"What you mean this sort of muscle for the street. Let me tell you something: It's a numbers game. A part from that, it's not muscle on the street. Every person here is a voter including myself. This thing is about numbers."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"It's not cheap."

Hon. Boots Martinez
"Put it this way - nothing is cheap."

But, more than a few cheap shots were taken at Martinez today. If democracy is a messy business, nowhere is it more so than Port Loyola where the representative never runs away from an argument.

We wondered where this hurts or helps the UDP councillor hopefuls:

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But perhaps it affects them when you come out because judging by the results of the last general election, you are not a loved man or as loved as you may think in Port Loyola. You got 48.6% in the city council. That same year they got 68% of the voters voted UDP, so they went down 20 points when it comes to you."

Hon. Boots Martinez
"Let me tell you something sir. Let me explain one thing to you sir. In all the campaign, whenever there is an election in Port Loyola, the city council candidates are minimal. People go on what they believe the representative do and don't do."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Is it a help or a hurt to come out with Mr. Boots? Because we know we see a gentleman down the road. Fair or unfair, because the gentleman has a little Mesop issue, but we know that everybody in the area have something that Mr. Boots do for them or hasn't done for them or haven't done enough. But if you came out without him, you are unblemished Dean?"

Dean Samuels, 4 term councillor
"Jules, I'll be honest with you - if it's one thing I have learned in politics - it took me a while to learn, but what I have learned you cannot please everyone."

Hon. Boots Martinez
"Why would you posed a question to the councillor, because I am the winner. You are going on like I am the loser. I am a 4-term winner, 4 times representative for Port Loyola. It's not lose."

Dean Samuels, 4 term councillor
"Once I am walking against Minister Boots, 4 term in his area, like it or not, say it how you want, but people definitely have felt the love of this man. No ifs nor buts, I know that for a fact."

But, running on a record of incumbency definitely has its drawbacks

Area Resident
"I will vote for you for another hundred years. Give me my street. I will vote for you all. Minister I am holding you responsible. You are on camera. Please for my street boss."

Because as you heard this area resident say, he wants his street paved - like last year:

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"It's real. You have to go on streets that is not paved. People - how will you pave my street? Is that a challenge for you?"

Dion Leslie, UDP Mayoral Aspirant
"It's never a challenge. It's an enjoyment walking out, especially with the Hon. Member and his committee and residents from the area and listening to the concerns. We have to be real in city council, we've done a lot, there is still a lot more left to do."

A lot more left - and this team feels that their record is a greater help than hurt:

Hon. Boots Martinez
"Politics is not boledo. Politics is not Lotto. It's what you put in, you get out. If I register more people than you, I will get more support than you. If I serviced more people than you, I will get more people service from you."

We'll be campaigning with the PUP in the city later this week.