Pittwater by-election: Northern Beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn wins vote to represent Liberals

The Liberal Party has chosen its candidate to take on the independent “teal” in the race to replace a child sex-accused former MP. See how Wednesday night’s preselection vote panned out.

The Liberal candidate for the October 19 Pittwater by-election will be current Northern Beaches deputy mayor, Georgia Ryburn. Picture: Liberal Party

Northern Beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn will be the Liberal Party candidate at next month’s Pittwater by-election.

Cr Ryburn won the preselection contest held in the Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay at Newport on Wednesday night.

The management consultant from Manly held off the challenges of two other members of Northern Beaches Council — Michael Gencher and Bianca Crvelin — as well as lawyer Claire Longley.

Cr Ryburn and Cr Gencher had planned to run for council again at this Saturday’s local government election but failed to have their names included on the ballot paper after the party’s nomination stuff-up last month.

Northern Beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn, pictured at Palm Beach, was preselected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Pittwater by-election on October 19. Picture: Supplied

The Liberals had to urgently cast around for a candidate to win back the once blue ribbon conservative seat after the resignation of former Pittwater MP Rory Amon, who quit NSW parliament when he was charged with 10 child sex offences.

Amon has vowed to defend the charges.

Michael Gencher ran a close second in the preselection vote. Picture: Supplied.

The Liberal Party’s Pittwater State Electoral Conference had gathered 87 members to take part in the preselection vote.

In the first round of voting, Cr Crvelin was eliminated after receiving just one vote.

Ms Longley, the daughter of former long-term Pittwater MP Jim Longley, was excluded after the second ballot.

Lawyer Claire Longley missed out on preselection. Picture: Supplied

The third ballot saw Cr Ryburn receive a majority of 48 votes from the preselectors, knocking out Cr Gencher.

She had been publicly backed by former popular Pittwater MP, Rob Stokes. It is understood she also had the support of Manly MP James Griffin.

There had been speculation that Cr Ryburn may have been disadvantaged in the preselection vote because she does not live in the electorate, even though she was building her public profile as deputy mayor.

Community independent Jacqui Scruby at the Bayview Yacht Racing Association clubhouse last Thursday, for the launch of her campaign to win the Pittwater by-election on October 19. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

She will be up against independent Jacqui Scruby at the October 19 by-election.

Ms Scruby launched her campaign last week, promising that she would be an MP “who delivers for the community and not a political party machine”.

At the March 2023 state election, the Liberals scraped to victory in Pittwater by just 606 votes against Ms Scruby.

There has been rumours that Cr Gencher may now put himself forward as a Liberal candidate to run against independent Sophie Scamps in Mackellar at the next federal election.

Cr Ryburn, married with two children, said her family had been on the northern beaches for four generations.

“Here, we’ve got some of the most incredible beaches, bushland and community villages, from Narrabeen to Palmy, and out to Terrey Hills; I’m proud to be raising my own family here.”

She said it was “only the Liberals have the track record of fighting for and delivering for Pittwater”.

“There is a lot at stake at this by-election, and people need to use their vote to send a message to Labor that they won’t stand by while funding is cut to critical road upgrades, cost of living support and our local public schools.”

She said independents in the current NSW Parliament won’t stand up to Labor, “allowing (Premier) Chris Minns to impose his one-size-fits-all planning changes which will see our communities voiceless when it comes to planning and development decisions.”

“A vote for anyone other than the Liberals is a vote for Labor, and their inaction and disregard for the Northern Beaches. We’ve seen funding cancelled for the half-finished Mona Vale Road West widening, and Labor has no plans to fix Wakehurst Parkway.”