The former mayor of Campbelltown, Anoulack Chanthivong, looks poised to become the next state member for Macquarie Fields.
It is now almost certain Councillor Chanthivong’s name will be the only one in the ring when nominations close next Monday and he will be automatically preselected unopposed.
It follows a decision by the ALP Ingleburn branch president Sam Morton to not seek preselection.
A potential third candidate, also of the Right, the same faction that would normally support Morton, also quietly pulled out of the preselection race after sounding out members of the Labor Party.
It is believed that even if there was a rank and file vote, Cr Chanthivong would have had the numbers to easily win any ballot.
But Cr Chanthivong was not breaking out the champagne.
He would not comment on the above scenario at the completion of Campbelltown Council’s meeting on Tuesday night when approached by the South West Voice.
“All I can say is that nominations close next Monday, so we will have to wait and see.’’
Cr Chanthivong said he wasn’t aware of the possibility his would be the only nomination.
The preselection became necessary when the current sitting member, Doctor Andrew McDonald, announced earlier this year he would not be seeking preselection for the next election.
The next state election is scheduled to be held on the last Saturday of March 2015.
