UPDATE THURSDAY:
THE newly chosen Liberal candidate for Miranda sees herself as a local even though she lives far from the electorate.
Premier Mike Baird visited Gymea to welcome Eleni Petinos, 28, to his team.
‘‘I am very passionate and very determined to represent the people of Miranda to the best of my ability,’’ Ms Petinos said.
‘‘I am looking forward to going out into the community and hearing their concerns, representing them to the Premier and taking them forward.’’
Ms Petinos, a lawyer in the office of Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, has always lived at Bundeena.
‘‘I actually think the shire is one community,’’ she said. ‘‘Electorate boundaries are fluid, but people share the same facilities.
‘‘We shop at Miranda Fair, go to Cronulla, enjoy the national park and waterways and go to watch the same [football teams].
‘‘I don’t think the exact location of my house determines my ability to represent people.’’
LIBS NEED 3% SWING
THE Liberals need a swing of about 3 per cent to take the seat of Miranda off Labor.
Premier Mike Baird said Ms Petinos was an election-campaign veteran and ‘‘comes with a good CV’’.
‘‘Eleni is an incredibly hard worker, a shire girl through and through and I believe she will be a wonderful advocate for the people of Miranda,’’ he said.
‘‘She represents the future of the party.
‘‘I know Eleni will work day and night to have the honour of the people of Miranda.
Mr Baird said Ms Petinos would stand on the government’s record of ‘‘delivering for the shire’’ in health and transport.
Do you think a candidate’s home address matters?
MONDAY:
The Liberal Party has overlooked two high-profile hopefuls and selected a candidate for the state seat of Miranda who would be unknown to most voters.
Eleni Petinos, 28, of Bundeena, defeated Sutherland Shire councillors and former mayors Steve Simpson and Carol Provan in Saturday’s pre-selection.
Ms Petinos gained 45 votes, Cr Simpson, 38, and Cr Provan, six.
An earlier report of a second ballot being held was incorrect.
Ms Petinos, a lawyer, who works as an assistant to Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells was supported by the strong conservative faction of the Liberal Party, known as the "hard right".
A member of the party's state executive, Ms Petinos also worked in the past for MLC Marie Ficarra.
Ms Petinos will take on Labor veteran Barry Collier, who regained the seat at last year's by-election.
Chris Allum, a member of Cronulla's well-known surf life saving family, withdrew from the pre-selection late last week, while police sergeant and charity worker Glenn Gorick was an earlier withdrawal.
Liberal Party president Chris Downy, whose name was suggested in an automated telephone survey three months ago to Miranda voters as a possible candidate, did not stand.
What do you think of the Liberal Party's choice?
