City councillor

Stephen Hishon has

announced plans to

stand for Liberal Party

preselection for the

seat of Ballarat West.

Mr Hishon is the first

candidate to declare

his intention to vie for

a specific Ballarat seat

at the 2006 state elec

tion. Ballarat West is

currently held by the

ALP's Karen Overing

ton.

Mr Hishon made his

announcement from

Dubai, where he and

his wife obstetrician

Dr Judith Fleming

moved two years ago.

Mr Hishon said he

planned to return to

Ballarat as soon as

preselection was called

while Dr Fleming will

return when her con

tract is complete in

October.

The former Nerrina

ward councillor's de

cision to move to the

United Arab Emirates

prompted a by-election

in the ward.

In a statement, Mr

Hishon said his de

cision to stand for Lib

eral preselection was

not an overnight de

cision.

"I have unfinished

business to attend

across our city and re

gion," he said.

"From my past ex

perience as former

Nerrina ward council

lor for the City of Bal

larat and the fact that

I was born, schooled

and worked in Ballarat

gives me great under

standing, drive, energy

and passion to rep

resent my community

in a potential Liberal

Party state govern

ment."

Mr Hishon said can

didates who sought

preselection for Balla

rat seats should come

from Ballarat or have

lived in the city for

numerous years.

"Steve Bracks

couldn't win a seat in

Ballarat so he defected

to the safe seat of

Williamstown to gain

preselection," he said.

"I am very proud and

willing to stand up for

my city."

Preselection for Bal

larat seats is expected

to begin later this

year.

Mr Hishon's an

nouncement came

after former Ripon

MLA Stephen Elder

last week announced a

major political come

back after a six-year

absence.

Mr Elder yesterday

said he would run for a

Ballarat seat but said

he would not make a

decision on which seat

until nominations

closed in about two

months' time.

"I will be making

that decision when

that time comes," he

said.

Three City of Balla

rat councillors, Ian

Jolly, Geoff Hayes and

Des Hudson, have ex

pressed interest in also

becoming candidates

for the Liberal Party

locally.