Nationals endorse Gulaptis

CLARENCE Valley councillor Chris Gulaptis will lead the Nationals fight to hold Page at this year's Federal election after comfortably winning the party's preselection vote on Saturday.

About 220 of the party's 300-plus Page members travelled from across the 16,000-square kilometre seat to the preselection vote at the Lismore Workers Club, with more than half of those giving Mr Gulaptis their first preference vote.

Mr Gulaptis, 52, said he felt honoured by the confidence party members had shown in him. He would work to meet their expectations.

Mr Gulaptis said he would campaign heavily on infrastructure issues, with an emphasis on the Pacific Highway and health. Beyond that, he vowed to champion Nationals policy in the region.

"I believe in Nationals policy and that's why I'm the candidate," he said.

If the former Maclean shire mayor wins the seat for the Nationals at the election, he will keep Ian Causley's office in Lismore. The Nationals Mr Causley is retiring.

Nationals Page Federal Electorate Council chairman Jeremy Challacombe said Mr Gulaptis' election as candidate at least two months ahead of Labor gave the Nationals a significant advantage in the seat, which the new candidate would press home with an immediate start to his campaign.

Initially, at least, Mr Gulaptis' campaign would be managed by NationalsRichmond Federal Electorate Council chairman, Murray Lees, who had just run Geoff Provest's successful campaign for Tweed in the State election.

Mr Causley congratulated Mr Gulaptis and said he would be happy to help with the campaign, if that help was needed.

Preselection candidate Sue Page also congratulated Mr Gulaptis, conceding she was disappointed at her loss, but adding she was glad that the election had been decided so decisively.

Dr Page said each of the preselection candidates had agreed before the vote to help whoever won with their campaign.

Mr Gulaptis, married to Vicki, lives at Maclean.

Mr Gulaptis said he was keen to fill Mr Causley's shoes.

Other Nationals candidates for Page were Kyogle mayor Ernie Bennett, Ballina councillor Sharon Cadwallader and radio presenter Neil Marks. A Federal election will be held later this year.