Labor’s Katie Hall and Melissa Horne have entered the box seat to become the new state members of Parliament for the safe seats of Footscray and Williamstown respectively.
Footscray local Katie Hall attracted the highest rank and file local vote in Labor preselection last month and was confirmed on Wednesday night as the candidate, following a further vote by the party’s 100-member Public Office Selection Committee.
Ms Horne was also ahead on the local vote heading into the committee vote and emerged from Wednesday night with the party’s backing.
Ms Hall, who has been working as the media manager for the North East Link Authority, beat out a preselection challenge from Maribyrnong deputy mayor Sarah Carter, former councillor Michael Clarke and former prime ministerial staffer Andrew Porter.
Ms Hall told Star Weekly she was honoured to secure the nomination.
“Five generations of my family have lived in Footscray and I’m so proud to be part of this vibrant community,” she said.
“From Sunshine to the Maribyrnong River we have exciting opportunities, but we are experiencing a lot of growing pains too.”
Ms Hall said she is looking forward to hearing people’s ideas and sharing her vision for the region’s liveability, education, employment and green open space.
Level Crossing Removal Authority director Melissa Horne was one of four candidates who nominated for Labor preselection to replace the retiring Wade Noonan in the state seat of Williamstown.
Ms Horne, who also heads the SKY High lobby group, prevailed over Mr Noonan’s former long-time advisor Fiona Ward, Maurice Blackburn lawyer Brendan Johnson and treasury staffer Jesse Overton-Skinner.
Labor enjoys a 16 per cent margin in Footscray and 13 per cent buffer in Williamstown.
The pair’s selection comes as former Labor minister Jane Garrett failed in her bid to secure a safe western suburbs upper house seat, despite comprehensively winning the local vote.
The powerful selection committee instead threw its support behind Ingrid Stitt, Victorian branch secretary of the Australian Services Union.
Elsewhere in the western suburbs, former Melton mayor Justin Mammarella will contest Melton and Sarah Connolly will be the candidate for Tarneit.
The next Victorian state election is scheduled to be held on November 24, 2018.
