Independent Port Stephens councillor Jaimie Abbott has been officially endorsed as the Liberal Party candidate for the State seat in the March 2019 election.
In 2013, Cr Abbott unsuccessfully contested the federal seat of Newcastle but managed a swing of 3.7 per cent to the Liberal Party.
Cr Abbott was elected as an independent east-ward councillor in the 2017 Port Stephens local elections.
Cr Abbott said whatever the outcome, she would still remain on Port Stephens council until the end of her term.
"When I first got elected, I made the pledge that I would always put my community first and nothing will change that. It is at the forefront of every decision I make on council," Cr Abbot said.
One of the major issues of contention for Port Stephens in the lead up to the March elections is the NSW Governments sell-off of the Mambo Wetlands at Salamander Bay, which Ms Abbot says she is a strong advocate for and will not be changing her stance on the issue under new leadership.
"I moved a motion at council last year, which was supported unanimously, which included compulsorily acquiring the site and I still believe that is the best way forward to make sure that we can return the land back into public ownership," Cr Abbott said.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said she congratulates Cr Abbott on the endorsement but does not know what to make of her position on the Mambo Wetlands.
"She is a Liberal Party member. She has claimed to have influence with the Premier. Why on Earth the land has not been returned to public hands yet? I don't know," Ms Washington said.
 |
| L-R: Liberal Candidate for Port Stephens Jaimie Abbott & incumbent MP Kate Washington. |
