KWINANA Industries Council president David Honey (59) has been chosen as the Liberal Party candidate for the Cottesloe by-election at a pre-selection meeting in West Perth overnight,
Dr Honey, a Cottesloe resident of 33 years, will now have to get the endorsement of the party’s State Council at a meeting in Burswood on Saturday.
He is understood to have been backed by the party’s establishment when he beat BHP lawyer Emma Roberts (40), who had been linked to the blue ribbon seat’s retired MLA Colin Barnett, and four other local candidates.
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READ NOWDr Honey is the global residue manager for Alcoa refining operations, a Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club member and served for three years as the party’s State president in the 1990s.
However, most voters along Cottesloe foreshore were unfamiliar with Dr Honey when asked for their reactions to his pre-selection early this morning.
“Well I don’t know anything about him, and I can’t say, but hopefully he’ll be as active locally as Colin Barnett,” voter Robin Smyth said.
Voter Tony Grist was familiar with some of Mr Honey’s family.
“If Cottesloe is arguably one of the state’s safety seats then the longevity of the incumbent is going to suggests you should have an incoming MP with the qualities of future premier, and while I don’t know Mr Honey he does seem a well-credentialed candidate,” Mr Grist said.
“I don’t want to be ageist, but it seemed Ms Roberts had the right attributes of age, education and a work experience profile to have a long career.”
The pre-selection committee could have gone into the night if its members had chosen to quiz each of the six nominees who each had 20 minutes to make their pitches to replace Mr Barnett in the safe blue-ribbon seat.
However, a decision was reached that allowed an announcement by about 10.30am.
To date, only the Greens have put forward lawyer and former Cottesloe councillor Greg Boland as a competitor, after Labor said it would not run an candidate
Other parties and independents have until February 22 and 23, respectively, to nominate for the March 17 by-election.