WATTLE Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi has ruled out a bid for the Lower House seat being vacated by Member for MacKillop Mitch Williams.
Mr Gandolfi, who was unsuccessful in his bid for Liberal Party preselection, shut down speculation he would run as an independent or with a political party in the blue-ribbon seat at the upcoming state election.
The former staffer to premiers Dean Brown and John Olsen said he had been approached by “a number of political parties” to stand against Liberal Nick McBride and independent candidate Jon Ey.
“I sought preselection for the Liberal Party, but was unsuccessful and have moved on,” he said.
“I view my role as mayor as paramount and I’ll continue to represent the people of Wattle Range without fear or favour.”
Mr Gandolfi said he had been asked to stand for the seat of Mount Gambier by one political party, but did not disclose which one.
It is understood the Liberal Party approached Mr Gandolfi to sit in Mount Gambier following the resignation of Troy Bell in August last year.
Mr Gandolfi ran as the Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier in the 2006 state election and received 33.9pc of the vote, losing to sitting independent member and Labor Cabinet Minister Rory McEwen.
Following the election defeat Mr Gandolfi sought Liberal endorsement for the 2010 poll, but was defeated by Mount Gambier City Mayor Steve Perryman.
Mr Gandolfi is serving his final year as mayor after unseating incumbent Mark Braes in a hotly contested three-way battle in 2010 and retaining the position unopposed in 2014.
Mr Gandolfi said he would not rule out a future tilt at state politics after November’s council elections.
