Mareeba Shire deputy mayor Kevin Davies, former Cook MP David Kempton and Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr have nominated for preselection to be the LNP’s candidate for Cook.
Three heavy hitters from the Far North have put their hands up to take on Cynthia Lui at next year’s state election.
Cape York Weekly can reveal that Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr, Mareeba deputy mayor Kevin Davies and former MP David Kempton have nominated for LNP preselection.
All three will now be vetted by the LNP and put through a rigorous interview process before the party’s branch votes for the candidate.
Cr Kerr, who also chairs the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, is considered by many to be the front-runner, considering he has the endorsement of Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
However, he faces formidable opposition.
Mr Kempton previously served a term as the Member for Cook before he bowed out to Billy Gordon in a landslide victory for Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Labor as Queenslanders revolted against the Newman government.
Cr Davies has been the deputy mayor at Mareeba since 2020 and is well known across the Tablelands, having served as a leader of Rotary and various other organisations.
The LNP candidate for Cook is not expected to be known until the middle of January.
Incumbent Cynthia Lui is the presumptive Labor candidate as she seeks a third term.
The only confirmed candidate for Cook is Katter’s Australian Party hopeful Bruce Logan, who announced in October.
The 2024 state government election is scheduled to be held on October 26.
Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cook, Bruce Logan.
