Jenny Aitchison Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault with Charlie Sheahan, at a recent forum held at the Cootamundra Country Club .

The National Party will vote on a candidates for the upcoming Cootamundra by-election on August 27.

5 female candidates expressed an interest in becoming the candidate for the seat, vacated by Katrina Hodgkinson, with an announcement yet to be made on the date of the election.

Cowra’s Ruth Fagan, Young’s Stephanie Cooke and Cootamundra’s Rachel Smith are among the candidates. Wagga’s Miriam Dayhew and Boorowa’s Wendy Tuckerman who live outside the electorate make up the 5 candidates.

The by – election has attracted the attentionĀ  of both the Labor Party and the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party (SFF). Labor’s Charlie Sheahan has declared that he will be available to run for the Labor party if he is chosen to do so.

The (SFF) are currently canvassing possible candidates and will be making an announcement in early September.

Forced amalgamations will no doubt be the focus of both Labor and the SFF. The eastern part of the electorate contains several Council areas forced against their will including; Harden, Gundagai and Cootamundra.