The Newcastle Liberals have launched their council election campaign without a mayoral candidate while the Greens have announced a replacement for ward four.
The Liberal party held its launch for the September Newcastle council election on Saturday at Wallsend Diggers where councillors Callum Pull (ward four) and Jenny Barrie (ward two) as well as ward three candidate Matt Bailey kicked off their campaigns.
But the Liberals are yet to announce a candidate for lord mayor or ward one, which are considered less winnable than the other three lead positions.
It's understood the Liberal campaign launch venue was booked in advance, and it was expected that the final team of candidates would have been confirmed before the weekend.
A vacancy has been left in ward one by outgoing Independent councillor John Church, which could boost the party's chances. But the candidates for lord mayor and ward one were to be chosen by the Liberal state executive rather than pre-selected by the rank and file.
Party sources had predicted preselection challenges against all three incumbent Liberal councillors, but the contests did not eventuate.
Cr Pull and Cr Barrie were pre-selected unopposed, while ward three representative Katrina Wark was not endorsed by the state executive to recontest her seat. Mr Bailey won pre-selection for the lead position on the ticket over Thomas Triebsees by three votes.
Cr Pull said the Liberal team was "united" in its mission to deliver change in Newcastle.
"The Newcastle Liberals held their official campaign launch on Saturday, where we unveiled our plan for lower rates, better roads and new leadership to build a better Newcastle," he said.
The Greens have announced 2023 Wallsend state election candidate Rebecca Watkins as a replacement candidate for ward four after businessman Jackson Dunlap stepped down.
Councillor and lord mayoral candidate Charlotte McCabe said Mr Dunlap decided it wasn't a good time for him to be a candidate.
Ms Watkins has lived in Newcastle since 2018 and is a disability support worker in her final year of a degree in global Indigenous studies with a major in human services.
"I've worked in customer service, volunteered with arts organisations, and completed several TAFE courses," she said.
"I've lived through what many Australians are experiencing right now and will fight tooth and nail to improve living, health, and housing outcomes for Newcastle.
"I'm fully committed to being a strong local voice for those who are marginalised and disempowered by our system that continues to fuel inequality and I'm looking forward to delivering on the Greens' aims for a more accountable council, a better deal for those struggling to afford housing and achieving a clean green future for Newcastle."
Prominent Newcastle East campaigner Christine Everingham will run as the third candidate on Independent challenger Ross Kerridge's ward two ticket after the withdrawal of Kimberly Besser. Ms Besser was initially announced as the group's second candidate in ward two, with campaign manager John Beach in the third spot. Ms Besser's withdrawal has elevated Mr Beach to the number two spot.
The council election is on September 14.
