Labor is poised to throw young Cessnock deputy mayor Melanie Dagg into the fray of the Hunter’s most marginal seat.
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The Newcastle Herald has been told Labor will endorse Cr Dagg, a 34-year-old law student and mother of two from Branxton, as its candidate for Upper Hunter in the March 23 state election.
The first-term councillor would not confirm her candidacy on Friday but said she was “interested” in contesting the seat held by Nationals MP Michael Johnsen.
She would replace Martin Rush, who pulled out this week over an anonymous complaint alleging he was involved in an altercation with a female flatmate.
Mr Rush, Muswellbrook’s mayor, has denied the allegation, Labor’s candidate review committee dismissed the complaint, and police investigated the incident and will take no further action.
Mr Johnsen holds the seat by a margin of 2.2 per cent after surviving a strong challenge by Mr Rush in 2015.
Deputy premier John Barilaro was in Muswellbrook on Thursday to boost Mr Johnsen’s campaign, visiting the Hunter Pilot Biorefinery construction site and handing a $1 million grant to the local golf club.
Upper Hunter is one of four seats the Nationals fear they could lose to Labor or the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, along with Lismore, Tweed and Barwon.
STATE OF PLAY IN HUNTER ELECTORATES
NEWCASTLE
Held by: Tim Crakanthorp (ALP)
Margin: 7.4%
History: Libs’ Tim Owen resigned in 2014 over ICAC scandal
Liberal candidate: ?
CHARLESTOWN
Held by: Jodie Harrison (ALP)
Margin: 12.9%
History: Libs’ Andrew Cornwell resigned in 2014 over ICAC scandal
Liberal candidate: ?
WALLSEND
Held by: Sonia Hornery (ALP)
Margin: 20.8%
History: Always Labor since seat was reformed in 1968
Liberal candidate: ?
SWANSEA
Held by: Yasmin Catley (ALP)
Margin: 13%
History: Ms Catley won marginal Liberal seat in a landslide in 2015 after incumbent Garry Edwards was disendorsed over ICAC scandal
Liberal candidate: ?
LAKE MACQUARIE
Held by: Greg Piper (Ind)
Margin: 10.7%
History: Held by Mr Piper since 2007
Liberal candidate: ?
Labor candidate: Jo Smith
PORT STEPHENS
Held by: Kate Washington (ALP)
Margin: 4.7%
History: Two-term Libs incumbent Craig Baumann withdrew endorsement in 2015 over ICAC scandal
Liberal candidate: Jaimie Abbott
MAITLAND
Held by: Jenny Aitchison (ALP)
Margin: 13.8%
History: Ms Aitchison won in a landslide in 2015 after retirement of Liberal incumbent Robyn Parker
Liberal candidate: ?
CESSNOCK
Incumbent: Clayton Barr (ALP)
Margin: 22%
History: Labor since 1991, but was marginal before Mr Barr’s big win in 2015
Liberal/National candidate: ?
UPPER HUNTER
Held by: Michael Johnsen (Nat)
Margin: 2.2%
History: Has never voted Labor but came close with Mr Rush last time
Labor candidate: ?