Canning mayor Patrick Hall has formally withdrawn his nomination for preselection to run as a Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Tangney in the next election.
His withdrawal comes after former City of Canning councillor Jesse Jacobs announced his nomination for the Liberal Party as the candidate for the same federal seat.
A source close to the Liberal Party said Mr Jacobs is now one of six candidates vying for pre-selection for Tangney after City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall withdrew his nomination last week.
Jesse Jacobs had been a councillor for eight years and a deputy mayor for two years but was voted out during the Local Government elections in October last year.
It came after an incident where Mr Jacobs was accused of stealing Mayor Hall’s council election signs during last year’s council elections.
City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall claimed he performed a late-night citizen’s arrest, which also involved police, on September 17, 2023, on a man allegedly involved with stealing his election signs.
Yokine resident Xuran Ning, 39, appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court last October accused of stealing election signs alongside former Canning councillor and then mayoral candidate Jesse Jacobs.
The election signs saga rocked the Canning council mayoral battle at the time.
Mr Ning and Cr Jacobs were later charged. The matter is ongoing in court.
Mr Jacobs has also been involved with the Liberal Party for 12 years, previously nominating for state seats.
According to the source, another candidate for pre-selection is being backed by a well-known sitting WA Federal Liberal politician.
City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall said his withdrawal came after Mr Jacobs’ nomination at the eleventh hour.
“I felt the whole process was turning into a bit of a circus, you had Jesse Jacobs nominating on the last day as a shock announcement,” he said.
“I think the whole incident put a negative light on the City of Canning.
“Someone needs to show a bit of integrity and that needs to be me and I stepped back and withdrew my nomination. My foray into politics is finished, done,” he said.
Mr Hall officially announced his withdrawal from the pre-selection race in a public social media post on Friday.
“Life is about perspective. It’s about being content with what one has, being grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves, recognising the faith that people have placed in you, and being satisfied,” he said.
“I have the rare privilege of officiating over one of Western Australia’s most highly regarded cities – the City of Canning, and it is a role that I thoroughly enjoy.
“Those who know me well recognise how proud I am of the position I hold, and just how much it means to me.
“I am entirely satisfied with where I am, fully content with my life, and entirely comfortable with my recent decision to withdraw.
“It was the right decision.
“After a short sidestep and a degree of distraction, I am fully and unequivocally committed to the Canning community – as I always have been, and I will be focusing on the remainder of my second term as mayor, a term which extends to October 2027.
“There is much to be done in the local government sector to improve outcomes for our communities – particularly those in the country, and I intend to roll up my sleeves and help where I can,” mayor Hall’s post read.
Early last month Patrick Hall confirmed via a statement that he would be running for the pre-selection for the Liberal Party for the federal seat, ending months of speculation.
“With strong lifelong connections in this electorate, my motivation for seeking preselection is to provide better representation for residents in the seat of Tangney, and to play a leading role in the decision-making which will shape Australia’s future and our way of life.”
Examiner Newspapers exclusively reported on January 18 that two City of Canning councillors, mayor Patrick Hall and his deputy Amanda Spencer-Teo would be nominating for the Liberal Party to contest the next Federal and State elections.
The successful nominee for the seat of Tangney will be decided by the Liberal Party on Saturday, 6th of April to run against the ALP incumbent Sam Lim next year.
