Nick Xenophon won’t rule out another run at Parliament, says for now he will be an ‘agitator’

NICK Xenophon has vowed to remain a political “agitator” and has hinted he will run for political office again.

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NICK Xenophon has vowed to remain a political “agitator” and has hinted he will run for political office again.

Mr Xenophon failed to win the seat of Hartley but was hopeful SA Best’s John Illingworth still had a chance of winning the seat of Heyson from the Liberals.

The former senator said he took personal responsibility for his party’s weaker-than-expected showing at the election.

SA Best candidates Connie Bonaros and Frank Pangallo won seats in the Legislative Council and Mr Xenophon said it was also possible Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson would also gain a spot in the upper house.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon with the party’s newly elected members of the Legislative Council, Connie Bonaros and Frank Pangallo. Picture: AAP / Mike Burton

Mr Xenophon ruled out running at the next federal election or taking a paid jobs with an SA Best politician,.

“I think for me, I’ll be Citizen X for quite a while,’’ he said.

Mr Xenophon noted his political hero was American Democrat Jerry Brown, who served as Governor of California from 1974 to 1978 and was elected to the position again in 2010.

“He was governor of California when he was in his 30s and then made a comeback when he was in his 70s,’’ Mr Xenophon said.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be when I’m in my 70 …. But you known I’ll be around, I’ll still be an agitator on issues.’’

Mr Xenophon said SA Best had been unable to withstand campaign attacks from the Labor and Liberal parties and the gambling and hotel industries.

“The fact is that getting over 200,000 votes across the state for a start-up party is okay for a first outing but there are always other elections,’’ he said.

Mr Xenophon said he was considering taking legal action against Steven Marshall for having suggested he had done a deal with Labor.