Adelaide city councillor Alex Hyde considers standing for Liberal preselection in Waite, taking on Sam Duluk

A prominent city councillor and former deputy Lord Mayor is considering standing for Liberal preselection in the seat held by the controversial former party member.

Adelaide city councillor and former deputy Lord Mayor Alex Hyde is positioning for Liberal preselection in the blue-ribbon seat of Waite – a move that would pit him against one-time political ally and fellow conservative Sam Duluk.

Mr Hyde is the chief of staff to Boothby MP Nicolle Flint, the newly elected SA Liberal Women’s Council president whose federal electorate includes Waite.

Elected as the capital city’s youngest ever councillor three years ago, Mr Hyde, 28, yesterday confirmed he was considering a tilt at Waite, in Adelaide’s southeastern suburbs.

“I’m considering nominating after local branch members have encouraged me,” he said.

Both he and Mr Duluk have been part of the same Liberal conservative group but party sources have told The Advertiser they believe both would run to win Waite if Mr Hyde was preselected.

Councillor Alexander Hyde during an Adelaide City Council meeting at the Adelaide Town Hall in April. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Former Young Liberals state president Mr Duluk will contest next March’s state election as an independent, having ditched the party on September 9 after being acquitted on August 24 of assaulting SA Best MP Connie Bonaros at a boozy 2019 parliamentary Christmas party.

Mr Duluk said he was not commenting on the Liberal preselection but sources ruled out any eventual concession by him in favour of the like-minded Mr Hyde.

Mr Hyde also is a former Young Liberal state president and in 2014 stood for the party in the safe northern suburbs Labor seat of Taylor.

Ironically, Mr Hyde worked on Mr Duluk’s 2018 campaign and was Ms Flint’s campaign manager at the 2019 federal election.

Mr Duluk was Ms Flint’s campaign manager at the 2016 and 2019 federal elections and was a Liberal factional ally, before he was booted out of the state parliamentary party in February last year and suspended his membership.

Former Liberal MP Sam Duluk. Picture: David Mariuz

Mr Hyde’s interest in Waite follows that of former South Australian cricketer Cullen Bailey, who The Advertiser on Tuesday revealed also was considering standing for Liberal preselection in the seat.

Conservatives said Mr Hyde was better known by branch members than Mr Bailey, even though the latter lives in the electorate.

Mr Hyde is understood to be keen to move into Waite if he wins preselection at a November 6 ballot, for which nominations close on October 5. Liberal supporters said Mr Hyde had worked on local projects and issues for years as a staffer for Ms Flint since 2016.

Potential Liberal candidates being touted by party powerbrokers include former Law Council of Australia president Morry Bailes, Leah Blyth and Mitcham councillor Adriana Christopoulos.