No Labor candidate as yet | Whitsundays News | Local News in Whitsundays

THE Mayor says he is still not putting his hand up, former councillor Louise Mahony has expressed an interest but we are still no closer to finding out who will fill Dawson MP James Bidgood’s shoes at election time.

Mr Bidgood announced earlier this month that he would not be contesting the next election.

Nominations for pre-selection for the ALP candidate have been suspended and are likely to re-open in about two weeks.

ALP state secretary Anthony Chisholm said nominations were suspended after Mr Bidgood’s surprise announcement.

Mr Chisholm said no names had come forward prior to nominations being suspended but he said nominations were likely to re-open in the next two weeks.

“We anticipate having a candidate there in the field by mid April,” he said.

Meanwhile, Liberal National Party Candidate George Christensen has called on Whitsunday Regional Mayor Mike Brunker to announce whether or not he intends to run for the Labor Party in the once safe National Party seat.

“The rumour mill is running hot that Mike Brunker is the preferred candidate for ALP selection so it is high time he cleared the air,’ Mr Christensen said.

But Mr Brunker said he was not putting his hand up for pre-selection at this stage and suggested Mr Christensen worry about his own party.

“If George Christensen is so worried about the ALP, he should run for pre-selection in the ALP,” he said.

Former Whitsunday Shire Councillor Louise Mahony said she was interested in running for pre-selection but said she was waiting until it re-opened before confirming anything.