City of Gosnells councillor Liz Storer was preselected by the Liberal Party for the newly created federal seat of Burt at the weekend amid rumours of a potential challenge.
Ms Storer was one of seven Liberal candidates who put their hands up for the position including Matthew O’Sullivan, who runs the GenerationOne indigenous employment scheme and fellow City of Gosnells councillor David Goode.
Mr O’Sullivan had been touted as a frontrunner after receiving endorsements from mining magnate Andrew Forrest, Federal Human Services Minister Alan Tudge and State Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis.
Only 25 voters attended Saturday’s preselection meeting.
The decision would still need to be ratified on Saturday by state council, which has the power to challenge the decision.
Ms Storer was cautiously optimistic, while she waited for the final stamp of approval.
“Certainly to get this far is very exciting and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead,” she said.
“There are rumours of a challenge but one never knows.”
Labor named Matt Keogh as its candidate for the seat in November last year after he lost the Canning by-election to Liberal Andrew Hastie.
A date for the federal election has not yet been set but it is believed a double dissolution election could be called in July should the Senate refuse to pass the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bill.
