Sunny Singh: Liberal Party member does a ‘Steven Bradbury’ to edge into Northern Beaches council poll

A popular Narrabeen cafe owner — who is a member of the Liberal Party — has done a political “Steven Bradbury” to edge his way into the council election on the northern beaches despite the monumental admin stuff up by head office.

Mandeep 'Sunny' Singh, a Liberal Party member who will run in the election for Northern Beaches Council. Picture: Supplied

A popular Narrabeen cafe owner — who is a member of the Liberal Party — has done a political “Steven Bradbury” to edge his way into the council election on the northern beaches.

It was thought that all 15 Liberals who nominated to run for Northern Beaches Council had failed to get their name on the ballot paper due to the monumental administrative stuff up by the NSW Liberal Party HQ.

But Mandeep “Sunny” Singh, who was supposed to be running as the number two candidate on the Liberal ticket in the council’s Pittwater Ward, has been accepted as a candidate by the NSW Electoral Commission.

Mandeep 'Sunny' Singh (left), a candidate in the Northern Beaches council election. Picture: Supplied

Mr Singh confirmed on Friday that he had lodged his own nomination forms online, not realising the Liberal Party was meant to be doing it.

“I got a call from the Electoral Commission on Tuesday congratulating me on my successful nomination.

“Then I got a call from the Liberal Party office apologising that my nomination had not been lodged. But the commission confirmed that I’m a candidate.

“It’s a bit of luck so hopefully I can make the most of it.”

Current councillor Michael Gencher was in the number one spot on the Pittwater Ward Liberal ticket, but his nomination was not accepted due to its missing the nomination deadline.

Although the Commission’s website has left the political “affiliation” box blank under Mr Singh's name, it does have an attached Candidate Nomination Form, which states that he is a member of the “Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division”.

The candidate nomination form for Mandeep 'Sunny' Singh to run in the election for Northern Beaches Council.

As a result, Mr Singh will be the only Liberal running for Northern Beaches Council at the September 14 poll.

It’s understood he will have the full support of the Liberal Party on the northern beaches and that he is being fully supported by the experienced state Liberal MP for Pittwater, Rory Amon, a former member of the council.

Mandeep 'Sunny' Singh (right), a candidate in the Northern Beaches council election, with State Liberal MP for Pittwater, Rory Amon at Mr Singh's 4Knots cafe at Narrabeen.

Although it is understood election campaigning by the Liberals on the northern beaches is currently suspended ahead of a meeting of local Liberals on Wednesday.

Mr Singh, who has lived on the northern beaches for 26 years, has a high profile as the owner of three cafes on the northern beaches, including the 4Knots cafe at the North Narrabeen Surf Club, and eateries at Brookvale and Newport.

The 15 Liberal Party candidates preselected to contest the Northern Beaches Council election on September 14 — Sunny Singh third from the left.

Mr Gencher said: “Sunny is a great guy,” he said.