Nicolle Flint reveals pick to replace her in Boothby, Anne Ruston backs candidate

Nicolle Flint has revealed who she wants to replace her in Boothby - and South Australian cabinet minister Anne Ruston has weighed in backing a surprise candidate.

Nicolle Flint has named the woman she wants to replace her in Boothby - and the candidate also has the backing of cabinet minister Anne Ruston.

The support of South Australia’s only two female federal Liberal MPs will give education sector executive Leah Blyth a strong chance heading into a pre-selection for the seat on May 22.

It gives Ms Blyth the backing of a moderate faction powerbroker in Senator Ruston as well the SA Liberal’s conservative faction, through Ms Flint.

Ms Flint, who announced her plans to quit politics at the next election in February, has written a letter to local Liberal Party members officially endorsing Ms Blyth as the best candidate for the seat.

Nicolle Flint during Question Time in the House of Representatives. Picture: Gary Ramage

“Boothby is Leah’s home, where three generations of her family have lived, raised their families, run their businesses, volunteered, played sport, gone to school and university,” Ms Flint writes.

“Leah can knock on any door from the Hills to the coast and genuinely connect with voters because she can tell them she lived around the corner, went to school down the road, had her first job nearby and still plays sport locally.

“This also means she knows the key local issues, and will listen to and deliver for our community on the things that matter most to them.”

Boothby preselection candidate Leah Blyth. Picture: Supplied

Describing Ms Blyth as an excellent campaigner with a friendly and approachable manner, Ms Flint also highlighted she was a working mum “able to connect with the women, and families, whose votes the Liberal Party most struggles to attract”.

Ms Flint also noted Ms Blyth had “never been a candidate for pre-selection before” and nominated because “this is the only seat she wants to represent” in an apparent swipe at rival candidate Rachel Swift, who nominated for pre-selection for the Liberal Party’s SA Senate ticket in February.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston at her home in Norwood. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has thrown her weight behind Ms Blyth in a separate campaign leaflet, describing her as the candidate who would resonate with voters, understand the electorate and “be the right fit”.

“She is hard working and capable, she understands first-hand the pressures on families and she has a lifetime of commitment to her community,” Senator Ruston said.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, a moderate faction powerbroker, is understood to be backing Dr Swift, meaning Senator Ruston’s support for Ms Blyth splits the faction’s vote.

The two ministers also split during the Senate pre-selection, when Senator Ruston backed Kerrynne Liddle, a political staffer in her office, and Senator Birmingham supported Dr Swift, a health consultant and Rhodes scholar.

Senator Ruston told The Advertiser: “I’m always pleased to be able to support strong, local candidates when they ask for my endorsement.”

Dr Swift also has the support of other high-profile Liberal figures including State Treasurer Rob Lucas and Health Minister Stephen Wade.

Former Member for Boothby Dr Andrew Southcott is also understood to be backing Dr Swift.

Boothby’s Liberal Federal Electorate Conference president John Hepworth and two vice presidents, Paul Gesti and Jenny Hembrow, have also backed Ms Blyth.