Baillieu replacement for safe Liberal seat to be known this week

UPDATE: WOOLDRIDGE a non-starter as replacement for Baillieu in safe state Liberal seat of Hawthorn.

Ted Baillieu at Sir John Monash Monument, Melbourne. Progress Leader joins with Ted Baillieu MLA Hawthorn and the Chair of the ANZAC Victorian Centenary Committee, in inviting residents to register their interest and connections to our very own first Anzacs, whether as a descendant or a relative, or current owner or occupier of their original home, or as a member of the same profession. Photo: Josie Hayden

FOUR nominees are in the running to be the Liberal candidate for the safe state seat of Hawthorn at November’s election.

Preselection favourites Joe Roskam (the executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs) and John Pesutto (a legal counsel to Premier Denis Napthine) have, as expected, both nominated.

They will be joined by Ralph Krein, a staffer with Burwood state Liberal MP Graham Watt, and journalist Sue Smethurst.

Liberal staffer, Ralph Krein, has put his hand in the ring for the Hawthorn vacancy.

Naptine Government Minister Mary Wooldridge has not nominated for the seat, despite speculation last week that she would.

The party’s Administrative Committee will oversee the preselection bout on Thursday night.

The vote comes after former Premier Ted Baillieu’s August 22 announcement that he would quit politics.

September 1:

TED Baillieu’s replacement for the safe Liberal state seat of Hawthorn will be decided this week.

The Liberal Party’s ­Victorian ­director, Damien Mantach, said the party’s administrative committee would preselect a candidate on Thursday evening.

Mary Wooldridge.

John Roskam.

Members of the party’s Hawthorn branch will not be granted a vote.

Mr Baillieu, the former premier, announced on August 22 he was quitting politics, just over three months prior to the November 29 election.

Institute of Public Affairs executive director John ­Roskam and Premier Denis Napthine’s legal counsel John Pesutto are considered the frontrunners to be ­preselected.

Community Services ­Minister Mary Wooldridge had also not ruled out ­standing, with reports circulating last week that senior Liberal sources had suggested she was keen to run.

Ms Wooldridge put her hand up for the seat of Kew earlier this year after her seat of Doncaster was abolished in an electoral redistribution, but lost the vote to former Stonnington Mayor Tim Smith despite strong support from Dr Napthine.

Mr Baillieu, who has held the safe Liberal seat of Hawthorn since 1999, said it was time for a fresh face to take the Hawthorn seat.

“On reflection, now is the right time to step aside and provide an opportunity, in time for the Party to select, a fresh face to join the Liberal team,” Mr Baillieu said.

“I take this opportunity to thank the people of Victoria for the trust they placed in me and the honour of serving.”