Georgina Downer ready for Mayo Liberal Party preselection vote

GEORGINA Downer will find out her Adelaide Hills political fate on Saturday when the Liberal preselection for Mayo is held.

GEORGINA Downer will find out on Saturday whether she will retain Liberal preselection for the seat of Mayo.

Ms Downer, who was defeated at the Mayo by-election in July, will face a challenge from human resources manager Reagan Garner for the party’s endorsement.

Both candidates will give a speech to Liberal members and take questions before those in Mayo cast their vote on Saturday, with the winning candidate to be announced on the day.

Ms Downer had the backing of the party’s Right, who believed she had electoral appeal ahead of the by-election but was criticised during the campaign for being an “out-of-towner”.

After losing to Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie 57.6-42.4 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, Ms Downer has spent the past month out in the electorate and with her family. She said her children were almost a term in at their new school and were “really enjoying the Hills life”.

Georgina Downer with son Henry in Stirling, South Australia.

“I was obviously disappointed with the by-election result but I am undeterred and have a lot of passion for the community,” Ms Downer said.

“If the party members decide to select me, I am ready to hit. If I was preselected, I’m really keen to make sure that we can get a lot better capacity at our regional hospitals in Mayo to deal with drug-affected patients.”

Ms Downer ran unopposed at the Mayo preselection in May after Mr Garner’s bid to put his name forward was blocked because internal party scrutiny detected issues with dual citizenship.

He is now confident his Canadian citizenship had been renounced.

Originally published as Georgina Downer ready for Mayo Liberal Party preselection vote