Lawyer Jenny Ware chosen to represent Libs in Hughes after preselection ballot cancelled

Jenny Ware, a Gymea Bay resident and lawyer who specialises in the planning and environmental area, has been chosen and endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Hughes.

The move, announced on Saturday, is likely to appease some of the branch members who were outraged by the cancellation of a local preselection ballot as Ms Ware was one of the three local branch members who nominated.

Ms Ware, a member of the Moderates faction, was chosen ahead of front-runner, Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons, who also nominated, and former Young Liberals president and Manly resident Alex Dore, who did not nominate but was being strongly supported within the party.

Ms Ware is among Liberal candidates imposed in nine seats after the party's federal executive intervened last weekend and cancelled preselection ballots by local branch members.

Five are female candidates.

They were chosen and endorsed by a committee comprising Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Dominic Perrottet and former federal Liberal Party president Chris McDiven.

President of the party's Hughes Federal Electorate Conference John Riad emailed state executive members on Thursday, describing the decision to cancel the preselection ballot set down for that day as "morally bankrupt".

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Court action to stop the candidates being imposed in the nine seats is ongoing.

Ms Ware's supporters include Attorney-General Mark Speakman, Heathcote MP Lee Evans and Minister for Multiculturalism and MP for Oatley, Mark Coure.

She was also endorsed by Danna Vale, who held Hughes for the Liberal Party from 1996 to 2010.

Ms Ware was a long time Liberal Party member before dropping out and rejoining in 2021.

Ms Ware is at present the director, legal services and general counsel at Georges River Council and, before that, worked for top tier law firms.

Ms Ware grew up in Cronulla and has lived at Gymea Bay for the last 20 years.

She and her husband Michael have twin teenage sons.

Ms Ware is a past board member of the Sylvanvale Foundation and past president of Gymea Community Preschool and Gymea Bay P&C.

She is still actively involved in softball as a player and committee member.

In a statement, Ms Ware said, "Our community needs a representative who will help to protect Hughes' unique natural character, deliver support for local business and families to help them recover from the impact of the global pandemic, and has the experience to influence key government decisions.

"Our region has been experiencing rapid growth, and I will ensure that our community has the roads, amenities and green spaces it deserves.

"If elected, I will fight to make sure our small businesses receive the support they need to grow and succeed.

"I will be a strong advocate for this community in the Morrison Government, for our roads, our schools, local jobs, cost of living relief, and I will work tirelessly to address housing affordability in Hughes and throughout Australia."