Libs name new candidate

THE LIBERAL Party announced last week Lucinda McLeish would stand against Labor incumbent Ben Hardman in the seat of Seymour.
Ms McLeish was preselected after a scramble to find a replacement for Mike Laker, who withdrew from the race just 25 days before the November 27 election.
Mr Laker resigned following accusations of ‘race baiting’ the week before when he admitted during a radio interview that he had discussed rumours with voters that Somali refugees would be moving into public housing in Wallan if Labor stayed in power.
Ms McLeish, 47, was born and bred in the Seymour community and is a senior consultant in the employment services industry.
She lives in Melbourne but owns a property in Yea.
Liberal Party state director Tony Nutt described Ms McLeish as “a passionate and active member of the community”.
The Mail endeavoured to contact both Mr Laker and Ms McLeish, but had not received a response by deadline.