Four Nationals contest Eden-Monaro preselection ahead of July 4 by-election
Four Nationals members have put their hats in the ring to become the party’s Eden-Monaro candidate in the July 4 by-election.
Four Nationals members, two men and two women, will contest a preselection battle to become the party’s Eden-Monaro candidate and face nearly a dozen other candidates to win the July 4 by-election.
The Australian understands Queanbeyan councillor Trevor Hicks, grazier Michael Green and small businesswomen Fleur Flanery and Mareeta Grundy have put their hats in the ring, with about 200 paying Nationals members to choose their candidate on Saturday.
Confirmation the Nationals would contest the by-election made it a three-cornered contest, after Labor endorsed former Bega Valley Shire mayor Kristy McBain and the Liberal Party chose farmer and small businesswoman Fiona Kotvojs.
The Eden-Monaro by-election was triggered after former Labor MP Mike Kelly resigned due to ill health.
Dr Kelly held the seat on a margin of 0.85 per cent and defeated Dr Kotvojs at the 2019 election by less than 850 votes.
Given the marginal nature of the seat, which had bellwether status for nearly 50 years until 2016, preferences could end up deciding who wins the race.
The Nationals have not guaranteed the Liberal Party will receive its candidate’s preferences.
There were divisions in the Nationals over whether to run a candidate after NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals MP John Barilaro announced he would not run, accusing federal leader Michael McCormack of failing to support him.
Local Nationals branches were keen to put forward a candidate despite the dud start, in what will be just the 12th time the party has run in the prized NSW seat.
An announcement on the Nationals candidate is expected on Sunday.
Eden-Monaro candidates so far:
ALP: Kristy McBain
Liberal Party: Fiona Kotvojs
Greens: Cathy Griff
Shooters Fishers and Farmers: Matthew Stadtmiller
Liberal Democrats: Dean McCrae
Christian Democratic Party: Narelle Storey
Science Party: James Jansson
Sustainable Australia Party: Joy Angel
Independent: Andrew Thaler
The New Liberals: Karen Porter
Australia One Party: Riccardo Bosi
Nationals: TBC
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