Former radio host Mark Parton is believed to have put up his hand to stand for the Liberals in Tuggeranong in the ACT election, one of perhaps four or more people seeking the slot vacated suddenly by Brendan Smyth.
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It is an about-turn for Mr Parton, who was asked about his political aspirations when he quit 2CC in December. His response was that he wasn't a member of the Liberal Party and his chances of standing at this year's election were 0 to 2 per cent. "For the life of me I can't see any circumstance that would lead that to occur," he said, adding: "I wouldn't rule it out for 2020 or beyond as it is something I still have a lot of interest in."
Mr Parton could not be reached for comment or confirmation on Sunday.
He is the most high-profile of the candidates believed to be seeking the final spot in the southern seat of Brindabella. The other main contender is Jane Hiatt, who stood for the Liberals in the Senate in the federal election, with two other names also mentioned but unconfirmed.
The strong interest is in marked contrast to the uncontested pre-selection in April, and probably reflects an expectation that the Liberals will retain the seat despite Mr Smyth's departure.
Mr Parton stood as an independent in the 2008 election, when he took 3800 votes in the Belconnen electorate, the highest vote of any independent since 1992 other than Paul Osborne and Michael Moore.
In the same election, 2008, Val Jeffery then with the Community Alliance party, polled 4100 votes in the Tuggeranong seat. Jeffery has since joined the Liberals and is expected to fill Mr Smyth's seat in the ACT parliament next week, albeit only until the October election.
In another historical twist in the seat of Brindabella, the man behind Paul Osborne's successful campaign almost 20 years ago was Richard Farmer, who has emerged into the ACT political arena again this year with a new political party.
In February this year, Jeremy Hanson took Mr Parton on as a part-time staffer to work on his social media profile.
The Liberals' management committee is to meet on Monday night to make a decision, and to choose the final candidate also for the Woden-Weston seat of Murrumbidgee. That spot is vacant after anaesthetist John Ellingham withdrew from the line-up just two weeks after the Liberals 25 candidates were pre-selected in April.
Mr Smyth withdrew from the Brindabella race and resigned from a long political career after being given a job as Commissioner for International Engagement by Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The major parties are standing a full field of five candidates in each of the five electorates.
