Cup field for safe seat

Jo McNally.

By Jeremy Sollars

SOUTHERN Downs Deputy Mayor Jo McNally and her colleague Councillor Cameron Gow have both nominated for the LNP candidacy for Southern Downs at the next State Election, party sources have said.
Nominations for the LNP candidacy closed on Monday, 15 January, following the announcement late last year by veteran Southern Downs MP Lawrence Springborg that he would retire from state politics at the next election.
The next State Election is due in January 2018 but it is widely thought ALP Premer Annastacia Palaszczuk will call an early election, possibly in February.
Also understood to have put their hands up for pre-selection as the LNP candidate for Southern Downs are Goondiwindi councillor Rob McKenzie, along with at least two other local LNP members.
The LNP refused to release the full list of candidates to the Free Times this week, with State Director Lincoln Folo saying party members “who have submitted a nomination are prohibited from publicly speaking about their nomination without the express permission of the Party President or State Director”.
Mr Folo said the LNP would name its successful candidate “as soon as we can”.
It is understood that LNP members wishing to nominate are required to pay a non-refundable fee of close to $2000, as well as be subjected to an extensive “vetting” process, including an examination of their financial affairs.
Hotly rumoured to be running as the One Nation candidate for Southern Downs is former deputy mayor Ross Bartley.
Mr Bartley was unavailable for comment at the time of printing of this week’s Free Times, but he has previously laughed off suggestions of a career in state politics when asked by us.
One Nation’s media spokesman Sean Bell did not return several calls from the Free Times this week asking if they had selected a candidate.
The ALP and The Greens are yet to announce candidates for Southern Downs.