SUTHERLAND Shire mayor Steve Simpson and champion surf lifesaver Chris Allum are among a hot field competing to be the next Liberal candidate for Miranda.
A well-credentialled young lawyer, Eleni Petinos, is another contender, along with high-profile shire councillor and celebrant Carol Provan and police sergeant and charity worker Glenn Gorick.
Liberal Party president Chris Downy, whose name was suggested in an automated telephone survey three months ago to Miranda voters as a possible candidate, is not running.
It is believed his work as a gambling industry lobbyist was seen as a liability.
Liberal Party branches in the shire were last night (Monday) selecting a panel to take part in a ballot on October 11.
Representatives of the party's state executive will also vote in the preselection to determine who takes on Labor's Barry Collier, who humiliated the Liberals in last year's by-election.
Cr Simpson's term as shire mayor ends tonight (Tuesday) and he is not running again.
A councillor for 19 years, he has made two previous attempts to enter State Parliament.
In 2003 he lost preselection for the seat of Menai, and four years later was defeated in the same seat by Labor's Alison Megarrity despite winning every shire booth.
Chris Allum, a primary school teacher at Trinity Grammar, whose family name is synonymous with surf lifesaving at Cronulla, lives on the northern beaches and is head coach at Queenscliff Surf Lifesaving Club.
It is believed he has strong support from former Cook MP Bruce Baird.
The seat of Miranda will take in a large part of Menai, including Alfords Point where Cr Simpson lives, at the March 2015 election.
YOUNG ASPIRANT
Lawyer Eleni Petinos, a member of the Liberal Party’s state executive, is supported by the very strong conservative faction.
They are often referred to as ‘‘the hard right’’, but claim this is a misnomer, and the term ‘‘shire conservatives’’ is more accurate.
Ms Petinos, 28, of Bundeena, is an assistant to Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, and previously worked for MLC Marie Ficarra.
Who do you think would make the best Liberal candidate for Miranda?
