Federal election 2025: Former Liberal councillor in running for Mackellar poll

An ex-Northern Beaches councillor is making a tilt at becoming the Liberal candidate to take on an independent “teal" at next year’s federal election.

As many as seven Liberals are lining up to be chosen to take on independent MP Sophie Scamps in the seat of Mackellar at the next federal election. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A former Northern Beaches councillor has put his name forward to become the Liberal candidate to take on the independent “teal" in the seat of Mackellar at next year’s federal election.

Liberal insiders have labelled Michael Gencher as a front runner to represent the Liberals in their bid to win back the former blue-ribbon conservative seat from Sophie Scamps.

But Gencher, who narrowly missed out on being preselected to run in the surprise by-election for the state seat of Pittwater — to be held on October 19 — is understood to be up against as many as six other would-be Liberal candidates for Mackellar.

Nomination for preselection closed last Friday.

Gencher, who owns a public relations agency and has a senior role at a non-profit organisation, is making a tilt for federal politics after his career on Northern Beaches Council was abruptly halted by the NSW Liberal HQ local government election nomination debacle.

Liberal Party insiders say Michael Gencher, a former member of Northern Beaches Council, ticks all the boxes to become a candidate in Mackellar. Picture: Supplied.

He will almost certainly have to fight off a challenge from James Brown, an ex-Army officer who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands.

Brown, who is the Liberal’s campaign director for the Pittwater by-election and a former president and executive chairman of RSL NSW, has long been touted as a future federal politician.

Former NSW RSL president and Army veteran James Brown, is touted as a future federal politician. Picture: John Appleyard

Others understood to have nominated include defence analyst Lincoln Parker who was in the running to become the Liberal candidate to take on Zali Steggall in Warringah at the 2022 federal election.

Parker missed out after the controversial Katherine Deves was installed by then prime minister Scott Morrison.

Party insiders say, however, that Parker is being urged to withdraw his nomination for Mackellar and instead have another go at being picked to run in Warringah against Steggall.

Lincoln Parker is being urged to run preselection for the Liberal Party in the federal seat of Warringah. Picture: Twitter (Lincoln Parker)

Disability advocate David Brady is another name being mentioned as a nominee for the Liberals in Mackellar along with secondary school teacher Vicky McGahey and communications consultant Paul Nettelbeck.

Vicky McGahey.

David Brady.

“Gencher is the frontrunner to be preselected”, a party insider said.

“He’s been impressive on the council and he’s out and about in the community, in the surf club, things like that.

“Michael ticks all the boxes as a federal candidate.”

Liberal preselection nominations are still open for Warringah.

Jaimee Rogers.

Gisele Kapterian.

Former TV and radio presenter Jaimee Rogers, who was the “face of Tabcorp” for more than a decade and part of the Big Sports Breakfast team on Sky Sports Radio, has nominated.

It is understood that former ministerial adviser and now senior corporate executive, Gisele Kapterian, who had been picked to run as Liberal in the federal seat of North Sydney before it was abolished by election authorities in June, will also nominate in Warringah.