Liberal Party nominations for the state elections of 29 November 2014 opened last Wednesday.
According to Neos Kosmos information, the Liberal Party will claim 55 of the 88 seats in the State Parliament, of which 14 are marginal labor seats.
One of the marginal labor seats is that of Oakleigh, where the sitting MP Ann Barker has announced her retirement.
Oakleigh might become the field of a Greek electoral battle if the Liberal Party chooses a Greek candidate for the seat. The Labor Party has already chosen as its candidate Monash Deputy Mayor, Stephen Dimopoulos, known in the local community for his close cooperation with the former leader of the Labor Party, Simon Crean, and his long tenure in local government.
The obvious choice for pre-selection for the Victorian Liberal Party in the seat is Theo Zographos, a candidate already known to the locals for his tough electoral battle with Ann Barker in the state elections of 2010, where he lost the seat for 272 votes.
Councillor Zographos told Neos Kosmos he will be nominating for the seat of Oakleigh and wished “to be given an opportunity to reclaim the seat.”
If Theo Zographos wins the nomination, Greek voters of Oakleigh will face a serious dilemma in front of the ballot box – whom to vote? Stephen Dimopoulos, or Theo Zographos?
The nominations for the seats held by the Liberal Party will close on 24 January.