Doubt still looms over Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis’ political future.
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She has nominated for preselection but her contender’s actions remain unclear.
Adam Straney and Paul Ell have pulled out of the race and Grant Schultz is remaining tight lipped about his interest in the seat of Gilmore.
Any nominations will be reviewed by the Liberal Party’s review panel.
A Liberal party source said the outcome of this preselection could be announced as late as August.
When asked how long constituents would have to wait, in comparison to the last preselection, Mrs Sudmalis explained last time she was automatically endorsed.
“I don’t know, how long is a piece of string?” she said.
“Last time I was just endorsed, so it was zip.”
She denied any knowledge of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s intervention in the preselection.
“I’m not aware of what the Prime Minister did or didn’t do, all I know is that when the Prime Minister was here, he gave me great backing, when the Treasurer was here, he gave me great backing,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
When asked about her close friend and predecessor Jo Gash, she scotched rumours the Shoalhaven Councillor would run as an Independent for Gilmore if Mrs Sudmalis was not endorsed by the Liberal party.
“There’s no way Jo Gash would have another crack at federal, she actually loves being on council,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
Rumours about Cr Gash’s political ambitions were fuelled by a phone poll that asked respondents about their voting intentions should Mrs Sudmalis not be a candidate.
Cr Gash’s name was included among those of Gareth Ward, Shelley Hancock and Andrew Constance.