A former National’s MP, the state president and a party staffer are among the first to indicate they intend nominating for preselection for the Victorian Upper House seat, vacated by Damian Drum
Mr Drum is expected to be elected to the Federal seat of Murray, following the retirement of Dr Sharman Stone.
National Party nominations for the seat of Northern Victoria close next Friday.
Former Rodney MP Paul Weller said he would be applying for preselection for the seat, which was likely to be retained by the Nationals.
“I think I have a pretty good track record of delivering to the constituents of Northern Victoria, I did well as member for Rodney,” Mr Weller said.
His seat was abolished in a redistribution.
“I’ve got a good background in water, in the needs of the agricultural community, in health, roads, power and law and order and I think I proved I was a good advocate, for the region.”
Nationals state president Peter Schwarz confirmed he had “expressed an interest” in preselection.
“I’ve been in the party for a fair while now, five years as state president, and I’d like to continue that service to the community, and, more importantly, regional communities.
He said he would not take preselection, or election to parliament if he was chosen as the candidate, for granted.
Mr Schwarz said Legislative Council played an important role as a house of review and in supporting parliamentarians in the Legislative Assembly.
The third person to indicate an interest in nominating for preselection is the chief of staff to Nationals leader Peter Walsh.
Melbourne-based Luke O’Sullivan, 44, told Fairfax Media he would relocate, if successful in gaining endorsement.
The successful candidate will hold the seat until the next state election in 2018.
Mr O’Sullivan’s family has had a long history in politics, particularly with the Nationals, of which his father Brian was state president.
Mr O’Sullivan said he pursued that passion as an adult, also serving as chief of staff in the previous Coalition government.
“Prior to this I was state director of the Nationals when we won the seats of Mildura, Morwell and Gippsland East and obtained our highest representation in the Parliament for 30 years,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
