 In the 1987 election, he defeated PLP incumbent Edison Key to win the seat, but his party suffered a national defeat, and Fred Gottlieb served as an Opposition MP during his term in office.In 1992, the Abaco area was divided into three constituencies; Fred Gottlieb ran against Edison Key of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for the Marsh Harbour seat.Edison Key narrowly defeated Fred Gottlieb in the contest, but Gottlieb's party won the national election and ended the PLP's twenty-five year rule.