Liberal preselections: Tangney sets up rematch between Patrick Hall and alleged sign stealer Jesse Jacobs

Former councillor Jesse Jacobs has emerged as a last-minute Liberal contender for the seat of Tangney, setting up a rematch with the mayor whose signs he allegedly stole. Mr Jacobs is charged with stealing local government election signs belonging to Patrick Hall — who was reelected as Canning mayor in October — after Mr Hall, an ex-cop, performed a citizen’s arrest on an alleged associate of the councillor. Mr Jacobs lost his council seat as well as the mayoral race but he will now face Mr Hall in a bid to be the Liberal candidate against Labor’s Sam Lim. Mr Lim unseated Ben Morton — a key ally of Scott Morrison — in 2022, delivering a shock result in what had been thought a safe southern suburbs Liberal seat. Two-time Survivor contestant and SAS veteran Mark Wales, Sean Ayres — a former staffer of Mr Morton’s — longtime party member Bill Koul, IT specialist Howard Ong and Melville councillor Jennifer Spanbroek are also running for preselection in Tangney, making it a crowded race. Nominations also closed on Wednesday in Nedlands, with City of Perth councillor Brent Fleeton, David Dwyer, Sasha Epps, Jonathan Huston and Hugh Shedden in a five-way race for preselection. Cr Fleeton is the likely frontrunner, with former Premier Richard Court’s niece — economist Libby Court — and City of Nedlands mayor Fiona Argyle not nominating after being touted as potential candidates. There is speculation the mayor will run as an independent after doing so in 2021 before joining the Liberal Party at the end of 2023. The previously blue-ribbon seat is held by Labor’s Dr Katrina Stratton, who has declared she will run for re-election in Nedlands amid speculation she will switch to the Upper House. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas is the only candidate for Churchlands — held by Labor’s Christine Tonkin on a slim margin. Scarborough pits social media influencer and domestic violence advocate Lidia Kukulj against real estate agent Damian Kelly, who is also the president of the local branch. Ms Kukulj used Instagram — where she boasts an audience of close to 27,000 — to post a video of herself outside Parliament ahead of submitting her nomination before Wednesday’s deadline. “I am sharing with you live, whilst being vulnerable, all the feelings that I’m feeling at the minute — which is a lot,” she said. “But I guess no greater feeling of determination in addition to excitement and being ready. Bring it on.” Former Liberal MP Tony Krsticevic will attempt to win back his old seat of Carine but must overcome a preselection contest with Liam Staltari, who works in corporate affairs for Mineral Resources. The West Australian has previously reported that Mr Staltari, who is a former president of the Federal Young Liberals and ran in Kalamunda in 2021, was encouraged to nominate by senior Liberals in an attempt to block the return of Mr Krsticevic. Mr Staltari lives in the electorate having moved to Duncraig to be closer to his wife’s family. He will begin at long odds to beat Mr Krsticevic, who has spent years cultivating a large supporter base in the coveted northern suburbs seat. Mr Krsticevic is also understood to have forged an alliance with Moore MP Ian Goodenough, who himself was ousted in a preselection contest against Vince Connelly in February. Mr Krsticevic and Mr Goodenough were outed as members of a faction known as The Clan through the leak of thousands of WhatsApp messages in 2021. There is only one nomination for Hillarys — human rights lawyer Lisa Olsson, who migrated to Australia from Sweden. Ms Olsson is studying for her WA legal accreditation at UWA while working at Steenhof Brothers. Her LinkedIn profile reveals she is a board member of Tenacious House, a drug and mental health rehabilitation clinic run out of the northern suburbs and originally started by the Pentecostal Globalheart Church. Mr Goodenough has traditionally enjoyed the support of the Globalheart Church congregation, although that relationship is understood to have soured in recent times, contributing to his preselection defeat.