Dalton favoured as Labor candidate for Geraldton

Lara Dalton has emerged as party favourite among WA Labor to contest Geraldton’s Lower House seat at the next State election.

The preselection process for Geraldton is under way, and while a candidate is not expected to be announced until May 1, it is believed Geraldton born and bred Ms Dalton has the support from the local branch and significant Labor members.

Ms Dalton is yet to submit an expression of interest, which close March 30, but said she had announced her intentions to the local branch – of which she is the president.

“I had a chat with them and said I’m thinking of doing it and obviously I need your support,” she said.

“There would be no point going any further unless they thought it was a good idea and fortunately they were unanimous in offering their support.”

The 45-year-old has spent the majority of her life in Geraldton, establishing strong family and community connections.

She worked in hospitably and education, working at then-named Central West College of TAFE, before opening her own cafe Salt Dish in 2009 with her husband.

Five years on the couple sold the business, and Ms Dalton returned to her role at the newly named Durack Institute of Technology.

It will be the first time Ms Dalton will take a run at politics,

Ms Dalton said her first-time run at politics was inspired by a conversation with Member for Perth Alannah MacTiernan and backing from MLC Darren West.

“I was at a Labor party function when I met Alannah,” she said.

“We started having a yarn and she said ‘I think you need to consider running for the seat of Geraldton’ and I guess that planted the seed.”

Analysts have predicted a bounce in Labor’s vote in 2017, as it will be free from buffering factors which plagued the 2013 election including the unpopularity of a Federal Labor Government and a first-time Government seeking a second term.

While Geraldton has traditionally been a Labor stronghold, incumbent Ian Blayney holds a 22.8 per cent margin over the party – and 11 per cent over the Nationals – meaning Labor, and possibly Ms Dalton, has an uphill battle on its hands.