Changing of the guard as Shardey announces retirement

23 June 2009, 1:32 pm

 

DALIA SABLE

 

David Southwick and Helen Shardey buy challahs from Glick's. As Shardey announces her retirement from politics, Southwick is believed to be the favourite to replace her.

AFTER 13 years as Member for Caulfield, Helen Shardey has announced she will resign from her position at the next state election, with political aspirant David Southwick believed to be the favourite to replace her. Southwick would not discuss his intentions when contacted by The AJN, but a source revealed he was likely to nominate for the seat of Caulfield.

Shardey did not identify a potential replacement for her electorate, but said she welcomed nominations for preselection.¬†It was “important for the party to have a representation of the community nominating”, she said.¬†”Whoever is chosen, I will give that person all my support,” she added.

Southwick unsuccessfully challenged Michael Danby in the federal seat of Melbourne Ports in 2004, with Shardey one of his staunchest supporters.

“David has worked very closely with Helen over the years. They supported one another when he ran for the Upper House. They worked very closely together in that election period [and she] was very supportive of David throughout the whole Melbourne Ports campaign,” the source said.

Nominations for preselection opened over a week ago and will close on July 7. The preselection campaign will then commence, where under the new Liberal Party constitution, every Liberal Party branch member will have the opportunity to vote.¬†First elected to parliament in 1996, Shardey currently holds the shadow health portfolio. Conscious of “generational change” within the party, Shardey said the “time was right” for her to resign.

“For me it was all about taking each term at a time and when it came to the time I had to make a decision about the future, I made a conscious decision to continue,” she said.¬†”I think when you do it like that, you don’t overestimate your ability and you don’t underestimate the task ahead … I suppose I am at that stage where I would prefer to do something less demanding. It’s really a 24-7 job.”¬†Shardey plans to remain involved with the local community after she steps down at the next state election in November 2010.