Labors Fiona Phillips is running an uncontested campaign while the Liberal Party stalls on preselecting a candidate for Gilmore, one of its most marginal seats.
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Its a unique situation which does not faze Mrs Phillips, who says she doesnt care who she will run against.
Im just out there every single day knocking on doors, talking to locals about Labors positive policies so thats what Ill continue to do. That hasnt changed, she told Fairfax Media.
Ive been out doing that for 18 months as Labors candidate for Gilmore and Ill continue to do that every day whoever their candidate is.
Mrs Phillips has built a social media presence on Facebook, in stark contrast to the federal Liberals, whose outgoing Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis is on a three-month secondment to the United Nations in New York.
While speculation was aired in The Sunday Telegraph that Bega MP and NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance was considering nominating for preselection, a senior Liberal source dismissed the suggestion.
Why would he go from being a minister in the NSW government to a backbencher, possibly in opposition? the source said.
Meanwhile, the only nominee, Milton businessman Grant Schultz, is cooling his heels, waiting on the party executive to complete the preselection process.
It expects to turn its attention to this after the October 20 Wentworth by-election, triggered by the resignation of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who like Mrs Sudmalis is also spending time in New York.
Under party rules, 90 per cent of the state executive, which has some 20 members, must agree to reopen preselection after nominations have closed.
If it chooses not to go down this path, Mr Schultz will square off against Mrs Phillips.
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