An OC Investigator Patriot has done the hard work of naming and faming the local players in Higgins and explaining the alignments of the many branches in the Higgins hot seat. A huge effort for which we are very grateful. Kudos. Here it is:
In Liberal preselections, 60% of the delegates who select the candidate come from local branches. In Higgins, the numbers game is far from clear, with a large group of individuals holding small groups of numbers. Whilst most notionally fall into line behind Kroger/Costello traditional lines, a split in the clan would devastate the Kroger/Costello crew's chances of snatching a hands-down easy win.
The branch numbers players in Higgins include:
South Yarra
Elspheth Sharp (small L who dislikes Costello/Kroger camp, an influx of new young members thanks to the mobilisation of many good forces may change that)
Solway
Tim Wilson (key Kennettista strategist and key lieutenant in Red Ted's army)
Malvern East
Home of the Kroger clan, including Senator-elect Helen Kroger
Gardiners Creek
Ian Kirk (closely aligned to Ross Liebman, Costello's former FEC Chairman)
Heyington
Alan Freedman (wanna-be Chairman of Higgins). Re-established with a strong presence by Anne-Maree O'Brien (former Coote staffer, now staffer to Julie Bishop)
Manning
Peter Katsambanis (Higgins delegate to Policy Assembly and former state MP) and Michael Stillwell (former party Treasurer)
Malvern
Narelle Sheezel (wife of State Director Julian) parachuted into this branch only a few years ago
Windsor
Graeme Rodda (Higgins stalwart and key player in the party's media and communications strategy circle) and Karalee Tilvern (news journo and wife of Peter Katsambanis)
Central Park
Peter Norman (retired businessman and former Administrative Committee member, significant influence in local area)
Malvern South
Leo Lovius (Kennettista, well respected senior economic policy manager in the Victorian Treasury)
Clendon
Strong supporters of the Krogers
Montalto
Clem Newton-Brown has the numbers here. Puppet Peter Clarke does the work and also runs the Prahran SEC.
Darling
Melissa Cross (former Costello staffer)
Orrong
Georgie Crozier (Higgins delegate to Policy Assembly. Staunch Costello supporter and long-standing secretary of the Higgins FEC)
Denshan
Penny Russell, strongwomen of the Kroger camp, key confidant of Sandra Mercer-Moore (the Party's Metro Female VP) and close friend of Helen Kroger. Strong opponent of Inga.
Armadale
Emma Duffy (Kennettista, Ran for Metro Female VP and ran Clem Newton-Brown's campaign) and Jane Hume (ran against Michael O'Brien for Malvern)
Camberwell
Di Rule (staffer to Red Ted and engrained Liberal Party antique)
Malvern (Young Liberal) Branch
Damien Keough (used to be close to Loveus, but outraged that Leo took all of their 'friendly members' to Malvern Central. Notionally supportive of Michael O'Brien)
Hawksburn
Tony Harris (small L, Chaired Prahran SEC in the lead up to the devastating result in 2006)
Sumerhill
Karen Synon (former Senator and former Liberal Women's Council powerbroker)
Toorak (Young Liberal) Branch
Rohan D'Souza (Young Liberal numbers man and former Fifield staffer) and Nick Demiris (young Lib VP and former Barresi staffer)
Stonnington
Virginia Cameron, strong supporter of Costello and friend and ally of Andrea Coote
Glen Iris
"Good relationship" with Malvern MP Michael O'Brien
Toorak
"Good relationship" with Ross Liebman, former Higgins Chairman
Tooronga
Former Andrea Coote support base, built up for her by Anne-Maree O'Brien (former Coote and Julie Bishop staffer, rebuilt Heyington branch), now somewhat unaligned
Camberwell Middle
"Good relationship" with Alan Cullen, the powerful Higgins chair
Chadstone
Unaligned but have always done the right thing by Kroger/Costello
Prahran
Unaligned but tendency to be small L
Ashburton
Notional support base for Kroger/Costello, but have been known to do their own thing and listen to no one
Carnegie
"Good relationship" with Costello's office
Game on.
since failed candidate 
|