With the Liberal Party tipped to endorse a mayoral candidate for the first time, there could also be some surprising independent nominations to stand against the mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, when the city goes to the polls on September 8.

Cr Henry Meskauskas has been named as the ALP’s likely mayoral candidate ahead of the preselection process, and the Greens will announce a candidate for the Maitland local government election in the Mercury tomorrow.

The Liberal Party is yet to confirm it will field a candidate.

But Cr Philip Penfold has been touted to attract the party’s endorsement.

Cr Peter Blackmore, who won the 2008 election with more than 50 per cent of the vote, had no doubt there would be a Liberal candidate.

“I expect that there will be a healthy field of candidates, and why not?” he said.

“Maitland is travelling very, very well and I think there would be quite a number of people who have their views on how they hope the city will be run into the future.”

Cr Penfold said he would recontest his seat at the September election, but there had been no confirmation on whether there would be a Liberal mayoral candidate.

“One day, being a mayoral candidate is something I’d like to consider, but that is a decision for the party,” he said.

Fellow Liberal councillor Bob Geoghegan was also a logical choice to represent the party in the race for the city’s top job.

He told the Mercury he intended to recontest his seat on the council.

Asked if that would be as a Liberal candidate, he said only that “at this stage, I intend to run”.

Cr Geoghegan said it was “a bit early” for mayoral speculation.

When asked if he was a possible contender, Cr Geoghegan said he would “leave it blank”.

Cr Meskauskas was also coy about his intentions to run for another term on the council.

“I haven’t made my mind up yet,” he told the Mercury.

“We’ve got to have an ALP meeting and at this stage I’ve got my options open.”