Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher has taken the first step in a tilt for the ultra-marginal federal seat of Corangamite.
Ms Asher recently nominated for Liberal Party preselection for the electorate, she confirmed to the Independent this afternoon.
Labor MP Libby Coker won the seat in the 2019 federal election by 2170 votes, in a count of more than 101,600, from current federal Liberal senator Sarah Henderson.
The Australian Electoral Commission last month announced significant boundary changes to the seat, due to take place before the next federal election.
Under the changes the towns of Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Birregurra, Lorne, Skenes Creek and Winchelsea will become part of the neighbouring Wannon electorate held by Liberal Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Dan Tehan.
Cr Asher ran for mayor as an independent but joined the Liberal Party shortly after her election to council in 2017.
She won 35.66 per cent of the primary vote in the 2020 election for the Bellarine ward, by far the highest percentage out of the 10 candidates running for office.
She is a long-time resident of Ocean Grove, which is part of the Corangamite electorate.
The Liberal Party preselection committee is due to meet tonight to decide upon Ms Asher’s potential endorsement.
