NSW election: Stephanie Di Pasqua in frame for Liberal party Drummoyne preselection

A deputy mayor and staffer for MP John Sidoti is tipped to win a preselection ballot to contest a key Sydney seat for the Liberals in March.

Deputy Mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua (right), pictured on the Canada Bay foreshore, is said to be the favourite if she makes it to an upcoming pre-selection ballot. Picture: Supplied

A deputy mayor and staffer of MP John Sidoti has emerged as one of the favourites to win a local preselection ballot to become the Liberals’ pick for a key Sydney electorate at the NSW election.

Stephanie Di Pasqua, who is the deputy mayor of the City of Canada Bay council, filed nomination papers to contest the seat of Drummoyne for the Liberals before the window closed late last year.

Ms Di Pasqua works as a staffer in Mr Sidoti’s electorate office while her mother and sister also both worked in the MP’s Five Dock HQ.

Sources within the local Liberal party – which is divided between pro- and anti-Sidoti camps – said although Ms Di Pasqua would likely win any preselection vote and would be a strong candidate, her links to the MP could play into Labor’s hands on March 25.

Sidoti was found corrupt by ICAC in July when the commission determined he allegedly leant on Canada Bay councillors to include his parent’s function centre in plans to redevelop the suburb.

Parliament voted to suspend Mr Sidoti from the Legislative Assembly in August after he refused calls to resign, and ICAC is currently seeking advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether criminal prosecution should be commenced.

He won’t recontest the seat he’s represented since 2011 at the upcoming NSW state election and will drop plans to clear his name in the Supreme Court.

The long-serving MP of 12 years has denied the allegations and rejected the findings – labelling the investigation a “witch hunt”.

City of Canada Bay councillor and deputy mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua is in the frame for the Liberals’ pick for Drummoyne.

In November, he announced he would not contest the inner-city seat as an independent, paving the way for a straight shootout between Labor and the Liberals.

Labor had held the seat since 1962 until Mr Sidoti won the seat from Angela D’Amore in 2011.

John Sidoti announced his intention to retire from politics in November. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Labor candidate is also a serving Canada Bay councillor, with Julia Little launching her own campaign late last year.

The Liberals selection process, however, has not been as rapid, although local party sources confirmed they had been told a preselection vote would be held on January 22.

Former Canada Bay councillor Tanveer Ahmed is understood to have filed nomination papers.

They also said although the makeup of the Drummoyne membership meant Ms Di Pasqua “would win the ballot and get over the line”, her candidacy could play into Labor’s hands, given her strong ties to Sidoti, who is a divisive figure within the electorate.

“I think she’s a reasonable candidate, she’s a perfectly good individual,” one source said.

Mirjana Cestar (right) is thought to be looking to contest the seat of Drummoyne. Picture: Facebook

“And she’s probably unfairly tainted, but that whole dynamic is there.”

Another local party insider said: “that (the Sidoti connection) is what Labor will say, and it will be effective”.

(L-R) Labor's state candidate for Drummoyne Julia Little and Labor NSW deputy leader Prue Carr in the electorate of Drummoyne on December 20. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi

The potential nomination and endorsement of the deputy mayor would, however, buck the trend of the Liberals’ recent preselection issues with endorsing female candidates.

Others who are understood to have filed nomination papers include former Canada Bay councillors Mirjana Cestar and Tanveer Ahmed – who both testified during Mr Sidoti’s ICAC proceedings – and lawyer James Harb.

It is understood estate agent and developer Christian Bracci, who was said to be in contention, did ultimately not file nomination papers.

An internal Nomination Review Committee could whittle down the number of candidates before any preselection vote, and no candidate is officially nominated for the contest until approved by the NRC, meaning it is unclear which of those who are looking to run will actually end up on the ballot.

The electorate is in the mix for both parties come March given Mr Sidoti’s retirement from politics, with Labor heavyweights Prue Car and federal MP Sally Sitou appearing at a campaign breakfast for Ms Little in December.

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