Northern Beaches Deputy Mayor Georgia Ryburn has won the preselection to run as the official Liberal candidate in the State Pittwater by-election, just weeks after being thwarted from re-contesting in the local council elections because of a bureaucratic blunder by her own party.
The local government (council) elections will be held this Saturday. The Pittwatter by-election, which is for a seat in the State Parliament, is on 19 October.
The departing councillor, a representative of the Manly ward, was selected by the NSW Liberals at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Newport last night, Wednesday 12 September, defeating fellow councillors Michael Gencher from Pittwater Ward, Bianca Crvelin from Narrabeen, and lawyer newcomer, Claire Longley.
The upcoming by-election scramble – held on 19 October – follows the resignation of Rory Amon after the Pittwater and Liberal MP was charged with child sex offences. He was released on conditional bail until the matter returns to court in late October.
Cr Ryburn told Manly Observer today she was glad to have a “proper democratic process” and is excited to represent her party once again, but now as a Pittwater candidate.
“I loved serving as Deputy Mayor for the Northern Beaches, and want to continue delivering for Pittwater, and that’s why I’m so excited to be the Liberal candidate for Pittwater,” she said.
“We’ve just hit the ground running with the campaign, and excited to be meeting locals and community groups and hearing from the community about what matters to them.”
The Liberal’s campaign will be primarily focussing on the cost of living and infrastructure in the Pittwater area, pulling focus on funding for the Mona Vale Road West upgrade and “standing up to Labor on infrastructure and cost of living and cuts to our hospital and schools.”
We asked the candidate, a management consultant and mum of two living in the Manly area, if living out of area would affect her chances. However, Cr Ryburn said she does not see this as a disadvantage for her campaign.
“From my perspective, the Beaches is one community, and that’s one big community, and that’s why I love it. I don’t want to go around trying to divide people based on what beach is their local.”
“The community needs a local and having been Deputy Mayor, delivering for the community and my family being here for four generations and Pittwater for three generations, I put my hand up so I can continue to look to deliver for Pittwater,” she said.
“Locals have told me that my opposition [Teal Independent Jacqui Scruby], has only moved in the area a year or two ago. So to suggest that I’m a blow-in is, quite frankly, laughable.”
(Editor’s note: fact checked this with Ms Scruby who said “I’ve lived in Pittwater for the past five years, with my kids going to the local school and I have been in and around Pittwater thoughout my life”.)
“From my perspective, the Beaches is one community, and that’s one big community, and that’s why I love it. I don’t want to go around trying to divide people based on what beach is their local.”
The preselection for the hotly contested Pittwater seat marks a significant bounce back for Cr Ryburn after the NSW Liberal headquarters failed to nominate over 100 of its candidates in 16 council areas in August.
However, the seat is far from won as the Balgowlah local will be going up against Teal Independent Jacqui Scruby who only narrowly lost to Mr Amon in the 2023 State election by just 606 votes.
Ms Scruby, an environmental lawyer and electorate resident pulled off an historic 22 per cent swing in the Pittwater electorate last March.
You can read her announcement here.
