Keneally's husband makes NSW council tilt

THE husband of former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, Ben Keneally, has won Labor preselection for the Botany mayoralty.

THE husband of former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has been endorsed as Labor's mayoral candidate for the City of Botany Bay.

If successful, Ben Keneally will take the reins from current mayor Ron Hoenig, who in August will contest the by-election for the state seat of Heffron - held by Ms Keneally until her resignation from NSW parliament in June.

NSW Labor said Mr Keneally was endorsed unopposed as the ALP candidate at the close of nominations on Friday.

Mr Keneally said in a statement that was looking forward to building on Mr Hoenig's legacy.

"My family and I first moved here in 2000 and we would not think of living anywhere else," he said.

Mr Hoenig, a barrister and mayor since 1981, backed Mr Keneally as "a worthy candidate".

Mr Keneally spent five years working in senior roles in the NSW Public Service and was a councillor on Hunters Hill Council in the early 1990s.

"I hope to be able to bring my business experience to ensuring the ongoing efficiency and effectiveness of council operations, and my knowledge of the NSW government to ensuring Botany Bay gets the best possible deal from state government processes," Mr Keneally said.