Bev top tip for Ramsay role
A LIBERAL Party legend could replace drink-driving MP Simon Ramsay at the November election, as speculation mounts over who will take his spot on the Coalition’s Western Victoria ticket.
Insiders have named Corangamite Shire councillor and influential Liberals Victoria administrative committee member Bev McArthur as the likely replacement for Mr Ramsay — but only if she decides to put her hand up.
Cr McArthur did not respond to the Geelong Advertiser’s calls yesterday.
But, the potential replacement for Mr Ramsay may have different aspirations, as she is also considered a possible successor to state president Michael Kroger on his expected retirement early next year.
If Cr McArthur was to run for the Upper House she would help to solve what Mr Kroger has called an “embarrassing” lack of Liberal women in parliament.
“We have failed to get an appropriate number of women in, failed badly,” he said last month.
“People have written pages and pages about how we need more women. I’m sick of good intentions, I want some action.”
Another name being put forward in Liberal circles is that of Geelong SEC chairman Matthew Verschuur, a staffer for Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan.
Mr Verschuur was unable to comment on a possible tilt at Mr Ramsay’s spot when contacted this week.
“I’ve been given instructions from the Liberal Party in Melbourne to direct you to talk to the state director about any of this stuff,” he said.
State director Nick Demiris did not respond to the Addy’s request for details yesterday.
A Liberal Party insider claimed Mr Ramsay’s spot would almost certainly be taken by either Cr McArthur or Mr Verschuur.
“No one else is in the frame,” the source said.
“It will be done in the next month or so.”
A number of other names have been speculated to be in the running for a position on the Coalition’s Western Victoria ticket, including Geelong councillor Ron Nelson, Colac Mayor Joe McCracken, Corangamite councillor Simon Illingworth and many more.
Mr Illingworth, a garlic farmer near Port Campbell, this week told The Weekly he had not turned his mind to a potential preselection but said “the decision was ultimately up to party members”.
“If the party approached me, then I’d consider it,” he said.
Mr Ramsay this week announced he would not recontest his seat at the upcoming state election, after being caught drink-driving at almost four times the legal limit.
At 11.30pm on Saturday police nabbed a 63-year-old Barwon Heads man — under- stood to be Mr Ramsay — swerving on to the wrong side of the road on Carr St in Barwon Heads.
The MP told the Addy he felt “like an idiot” and that the consequences of his “inexcusable” actions would haunt him forever.
“People have written pages and pages about how we need more women. I’m sick of good intentions, I want some action.” MICHAEL KROGER