Resignation of Gosford state Labor MP Kathy Smith triggers by-election for most marginal seat in NSW

POLITICAL jockeying has moved into overdrive to replace Kathy Smith as the next Member for Gosford.

Gosford state Labor MP Kathy Smith has resigned from her position making way for by-election for the Gosford electorate.

POLITICAL jockeying has moved into overdrive to replace Kathy Smith as the next Member for Gosford just days after the Labor MP quit as she continues to face a battle with cancer.

Ms Smith’s resignation has triggered a by-election in the most marginal seat in NSW along with a flurry of interest from potential candidates including former federal and local politicians.

While a by-election date has not yet been announced, former Labor candidate for the federal seat of Robertson Anne Charlton has already thrown her hat in the ring for party preselection.

Ms Charlton has her eye on the seat after failing to win Robertson from Liberal Lucy Wicks at last year’s federal election.

The Labor Party has remained tight-lipped on other possible candidates for a preselection battle, while One Nation also refused to make any public comment on a likely candidate.

Labor member Anne Charlton is keen to throw her hat in the ring for preselection.

Terrigal state Liberal MP Adam Crouch confirmed to the Express Advocate the Liberal Party would “strongly contest” the seat of Gosford but would not yet reveal any names.

Although Liberal Party sources suggested four possible frontrunners including former long-time federal MP for Robertson Jim Lloyd, former candidate for the state seat of The Entrance Michael Sharpe, former Gosford councillor Deanna Bocking, and Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Sean Gordon­.

Ms Charlton said she was incredibly saddened by Ms Smith’s departure from politics and hoped to continue a shared passion for community advocacy.

“Kathy and I have a really similar background, we’re not necessarily career politicians but we’ve come from the community,” she said.

“My work with Central Coast Family Support and now Coast Shelter makes my advocacy much more passionate and from the heart.”

Former Gosford MP Chris Holstein will sit back and wait to see the “quality and abilities” of candidates before considering a potential return to politics.

Meanwhile, former Gosford state Liberal MP Chris Holstein, who lost the seat to Ms Smith by just 203 votes, said he would not rule out running as an independent candidate.

Mr Holstein is currently chairman of advertising guru John Singleton’s Central Coast Taskforce.

“I sincerely express my sorrows for Kathy’s circumstances. I’m not wanting to be unsympathetic, but for over 12 months there hasn’t been representation,” Mr Holstein said.

“I will be looking at the quality, the abilities of what candidates will be put up by the parties and what they can bring to the seat of Gosford. I’ll wait and see. ”

Originally published as Resignation of Gosford state Labor MP Kathy Smith triggers by-election for most marginal seat in NSW