John Brownstein will represent the party in the seat of Bendigo West after moving to the city earlier this year.

“It was a great honour and privilege to represent a regional community as mayor and the skills and knowledge I gained will be invaluable if I am elected as the member for Bendigo West,” Mr Brownstein said yesterday.

Largely Bendigo West has been a Labor-held seat since the 1920s.

The only period it was under Liberal control coincided with the first term of the Kennett Government from 1992 to 1996.

Mr Brownstein became an operations and emergency management administrator for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in January.

It is not the first time the former Benalla and District Residents Association chief has been involved in politics beyond local government.

In 2007, Mr Brownstein joined the Labor Party and sought pre-selection to run in the federal seat of Indi against then Liberal incumbent Sophie Mirabella.

He lost his Labor candidacy bid to Zuvele Leschen, who then unsuccessfully ran against Mrs Mirabella.