The pending release of the Australian Electoral Commission draft redistribution expected next month will be the trigger for Indi Liberals to begin their search for a candidate to contest the next election due in 2022.
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The proposed boundary changes could impact on who steps forward for preselection in the seat presently held by independent Helen Haines.
Her main challenger at the 2019 election was Liberal Steve Martin and he has not ruled out standing again even though sources have told The Border Mail he was eyeing off a tilt at state politics.
"Until we have come to the preselection process I won't be making any comment about my intentions," he said.
He polled nearly 3000 more primary votes than Dr Haines, but lost on preferences with his cause not helped by the National Party vote nose-diving from the previous election.
Last Sunday more than 60 Indi Liberals gathered at Benalla for the first time since the pandemic began 12 months ago.
Even though pre-selection wasn't an agenda item at the federal electorate conference it was a topic of high interest among delegates eager to win the seat back.
Indi Liberals chairman Tony Schneider confirmed the AEC draft redistribution would be a catalyst for pre-selection nominations being called in Indi and other target seats across the state.
"The intention of the party was to run a pre-selection last year, but couldn't go ahead for obvious reasons," he said.
"It's definitely the intention to get candidates out in the field in not only Indi sooner rather than later.
"The AEC redistribution will have some bearing.
"If boundaries change that brings certain people into play or not into play depending on where they live.
"Last time Steve wasn't preselected until late in the year and the election was the following May.
"Taking the Christmas holidays into account he probably really only had a 12-week campaign."
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