Sutherland Shire councilor Kent Johns has agreed not to nominate for Liberal Party preselection for Hughes after further pressure from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
However, the Leader has confirmed an earlier Fairfax Media report Cr Johns was advised on Thursday afternoon of Mr Turnbull’s view he should not run, and he agreed not to nominate.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, with party sources claiming two other branch members had already nominated to challenge Mr Kelly.
Mr Turnbull’s letter to the Liberal Party executive strongly recommended Mr Kelly be re-endorsed.
The Prime Minister said Mr Kelly’s electoral results were “outstanding,” he had “a fine reputation for standing up for his local constituents and was unafraid of taking on controversial issues”.
