Teal strategist Alex Fein quits ahead of state election

The teal movement has lost one of its key figures in Melbourne after a major disagreement just weeks out from the election.

Strategist Alex Fein worked on independent MP Zoe Daniel’s campaign. Picture: Ian Currie

One of the teal movement’s most senior strategists has quit just weeks out from the election.

Alex Fein, Voices of Caulfield president, who has been working on the teal campaign in one of the state’s most high-profile seats, alongside candidate Nomi Kaltmann, has resigned from her position just two months after signing on.

The Herald Sun understands that Ms Fein was not happy with how Ms Kaltmann’s Caulfield campaign was being run, with fears that volunteer mobilisation was lacking in the electorate.

Ms Fein, however, said she had ditched the campaign due to her role at Redbridge.

“I work for a political research company and feel it’s best, at this stage, to stay at arms length from campaigns,” she told the Herald Sun.

She confirmed that she was on good terms with Ms Kaltmann.

At the federal election, Ms Fein was head of strategy for independent MP Zoe Daniel, who snatched the blue-ribbon seat of Goldstein from Liberal MP Tim Wilson.

The independent strategist was recruited to the Caulfield campaign to unseat Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick due to her strong ties with Climate 200.

While Ms Kaltmann was the first teal announced this election, she was one of the last to receive formal backing from Climate 200 – the activist group adding her to their website only four weeks ago.

Ms Fein had selected the 30-year-old mum of three in August, calling her a “clear winner” in the search for the high profile seat’s first teal.

“Caulfield deserves the best independent candidate to represent it in the parliament and we think Nomi is a brilliant candidate who has the drive, passion and community backing to succeed,” she said.

Alex Fein was head of strategy for independent MP Zoe Daniel. Picture: Ian Currie

In the weeks following, Ms Kaltmann was questioned over her Labor Party ties after leaked documents revealed the former major party member had run for a series of Labor Party office-holder positions in February this year.

The journalist and lawyer said Ms Fein’s political knowledge and experience had been appreciated during her short stint.

“Alex was a valued volunteer on the Nomi4Caulfield Campaign,” Ms Kaltman told the Herald Sun.

“She will be missed and I wish her all the best.”

But some leading members of the Jewish community have said otherwise, stating that they believe Ms Kaltmann’s chances in the ultra-marginal seat will be boosted by Ms Fein’s walkout.

One Jewish community leader, who wished to remain anonymous, said Ms Fein’s resignation “could benefit Nomi in the eyes of the community who regard Alex’s involvement as a liability”.

“Alex has long been regarded as hostile to the mainstream communal establishment,” he said.

Another prominent community leader said it “reflected extremely poor judgment to have Alex involved in a campaign when she operates on a very extreme fringe and has made outrageous allegations”.

The left-wing activist has a long history of run-ins with Jewish community figures, including a legal dispute with a former colleague that resulted in an intervention order being taken out against her.

Ms Fein also previously accused the Executive Council of Australia Jewry of producing online content that is a “magnet for Holocaust deniers” and a senior Jewish community leader of having “shit on the memory of the six million as he cowers in the face of actual Nazi activity”.