FORMER weather officer Craig Marsh has emerged victorious in tonight’s Liberal Party preselection ballot to run in state election for the seat of Mount Gambier.
Mr Marsh was up against Mount Gambier realtor Vicki Quinn and prominent Mingbool grazier Tony Beck in the three-way tussle.
The tightly-contested vote was held at the Allan Scott Glenburnie Racecourse, which was expected to attract more than 100 eligible Liberal Party members.
Mr Marsh will now step into the politician arena following the resignation of Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell from the Liberal Party ranks.
Mr Bell – who is representing the electorate as an independent – is fighting a string of theft and fraud charges.
He has yet to rule out running in the March 2018 state election.
Already boasting a high profile in the Blue Lake city, Mr Marsh is well known for his former role as the manager of the Bureau of Meteorology Mount Gambier station.
Recently, Mr Marsh took up a role in sales with Herbert Real Estate.
According to information sent to party members, a person must be a financial member of the party for 12 months to be eligible to vote.
The three contenders addressed the Liberal Party college before a vote by preferential ballot in accordance with the party’s constitution was conducted.
College members must have attended the meeting to vote and no proxy or early voting was allowed
Around 10 members of the Liberal Party SA executive were expected to attend tonight’s vote.
