Pittwater by-election: Liberals set to choose from four locals to represent party after Rory Amon resignation

Two councillors, dudded in the Liberals’ nominations debacle, are among those throwing their hats into the ring to represent the besieged party at an upcoming state by-election.

At least four local Liberals have put their name forward to represent their party at the shock Pittwater by-election set down for October 19. Picture: Supplied

At least four would-be state MPs have put their names forward to become the Liberal candidate at next month’s shock Pittwater by-election.

Two are Northern Beaches Council members, who were dudded in the party’s local government election nomination stuff-up last month.

The Liberals had to urgently cast around for a candidate following the resignation of former Pittwater MP Rory Amon, who quit NSW Parliament when he was charged with 10 child sex offences last Friday.

Amon has vowed to defend the charges.

Northern Beaches deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn is looking at becoming the Liberal candidate at the Pittwater by-election. Picture: Supplied

Northern Beaches councillor Michael Gencher, who was supposed to be number one on the Liberal ticket for the council’s Pittwater Ward, confirmed on Wednesday he had applied for preselection for the by-election.

Multiple party sources have also confirmed that deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn, who was meant to be running in the Manly Ward for council at the September 14 local government election, had also nominated to become the Liberals’ Pittwater candidate.

Insiders also said Bianca Crvelin, a one-term Liberal Northern Beaches councillor, but decided not to run again for council, instead lodging a nomination form for preselection in the state by-election.

It is also understood that lawyer Claire Longley, the daughter of former long-term Pittwater MP Jim Longley, has put her name forward after ringing around local party members to muster support.

Cr Michael Gencher is a preselection candidate who lives in the electorate. Picture: Supplied.

There had been intense internal party chatter that Cr Ryburn would make a tilt at preselection.

But some within the party were saying that Cr Ryburn, a management consultant, may be hindered because she didn’t live in the electorate. She lives on the southern end of the northern beaches.

Consultant and lawyer Claire Longley is in the running for preselection. Picture: Supplied

But another former Pittwater MP, Rob Stokes, said earlier this week that Cr Ryburn should be picked to run in his old seat.

“There are those who believe Georgia may be at a disadvantage in the preselection vote, because she’s strictly not a local, even though she was building her public profile as the whole northern beaches as deputy mayor,” a party insider said on Wednesday.

Former Liberal Northern Beaches councillor Bianca Crvelin. Picture: Karen Watson for Northern Beaches Council

It is understood Ms Crvelin, an accountant who lives within the electorate, has also been canvasing support from party members in recent days.

Ms Longley was hitting the phones at the same time, trying to gauge reaction to her potential Pittwater candidacy, the insider said.

The preselection vote may be held as early as next week, possibly at Pittwater RSL Club, to give the chosen candidate a chance to campaign before the October 19 poll.

Whomever was picked would, some party insiders said, would have little chance of winning the by-election, especially with a likely challenge from a “teal” independent.

At the March 2023 state election, Amon scraped to victory by just 606 two-party preferred votes against “teal” Jacqui Scruby, who is considering running again.