Asher sticks with Liberals
Mayor rejects approach from climate activist
LIBERAL federal election candidate for Corangamite Stephanie Asher “never for a moment” considered an offer to relinquish party endorsement and run as an independent candidate backed by wealthy climate activist Simon Holmes a Court.
With the election due by May 21, the “Voices Of” political movement, backed by Climate 200 founder Mr Holmes a Court, approached the Geelong mayor last year, seeking to use her public profile for its benefit.
But Ms Asher refused to sever ties with the Liberal Party and in recent weeks has been out campaigning after taking a leave of absence from her council position.
She said she “never for a moment” considered running as a Voices Of candidate.
“I was pre-selected by the Liberal Party and am absolutely committed to it and its values which echo mine, and I would never break the trust the Liberals have put in me as their candidate,” she said.
“As people know, I am passionate about our region, our communities and its sustainable growth, and I want to pursue policies at a federal level that will deliver tangible benefits for all of our community.
“I want to see our local region thrive and the best way of doing this is by being part of a strong Liberal government.”
Ms Asher was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Corangamite in July last year and became a party member in
June 2018. She ran as an independent for the federal seat of Corio at the 2013 election.
Voices of Corangamite spokesman Mike Lawrence said he approached Ms Asher last year and the political movement’s search for a Corangamite candidate was ongoing.
“We’ve had people very interested,” Mr Lawrence said.
“I spoke to Stephanie Asher about relinquishing her preselection for Liberal Party and running as an independent.
“Quite frankly she gave it some serious thought, (but) said she had made a commitment to run as a Liberal.”
The seat of Corangamite – which will cover Torquay, the Bellarine Peninsula and other outer Geelong suburbs at the 2022 federal election – will be contested by Ms Asher, sitting Labor MP Libby Coker, the Animal Justice Party’s Meg Watkins, Liberal Democrat Paul Barker, the United Australia Party’s Daniel AbouZeid and the Greens’ Alex
Marshall. Ms Coker won Corangamite by only 2170 votes at the 2019 election.