Northern Territory Labor has revealed its candidate for the Fannie Bay by-election, which was triggered by the resignation of former chief minister and local member Michael Gunner earlier this week.
Brent Potter — a former political staffer and defence force veteran who has lived in Darwin since 2009 — was confirmed as the Labor party's candidate for the seat on Friday evening.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announced the news in a post on her ministerial Facebook page.
"An army veteran, Territorian and devoted father of four, Brent knows what it takes to serve the community — and that's where his passions lie," she said.
"I know he will work hard for the territory and the electorate of Fannie Bay."
Before his selection, Mr Potter most recently worked for Ms Fyles as a policy advisor.
He has also previously worked in the private sector in a business development role, in aged care and has served in the army.
Mr Potter was already on the campaign trail this morning, chatting to punters at the busy Parap Markets, alongside Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison.
He said he saw the biggest issues in the electorate as restoring business certainty and activating the electorate's green spaces.
"Coming out of COVID, we've got, obviously, workforce [issues] and we've got [an] economy that is breaking out of that, [so] we need to make sure that we give businesses certainty, so they can grow and we can expand," Mr Potter said.
"[Also] we've got a lot of great, open areas and parklands. We need to activate those so that we get more business into the community."
The candidate also said he saw advantages in his newcomer status.
"I think being local and not being in cabinet and not being the chief minister allows me to get more time in the community and hear them out and get it done," he said.
"What I want to do is, I want to be their voice into the caucus room and advocate directly for them."
Mr Potter currently lives outside of the electorate, in the Palmerston suburb of Bellamack, but has pledged to move to the Fannie Bay area if elected.
The Fannie Bay by-election has been scheduled for Saturday, August 20.
It was triggered by Mr Gunner's resignation as the local member, which he announced in parliament on Wednesday evening, to spend more time with his family.
Mr Gunner stepped down as chief minister in May but remained the member for Fannie Bay until this week.
The Northern Territory's other major party, the Country Liberal Party, is expected to announce its candidate for the seat in coming days.
