Environmental lawyer Jacqui Scruby on Thursday announced she would again try to take Pittwater out of Liberal hands after incumbent Rory Amon's shock arrest and resignation from parliament sparked a by-election.
She fell just 606 votes short in the 2023 state election after triggering a colossal 22 per cent swing on Sydney's well-heeled northern beaches.
Long considered Liberal heartland, the area now features three independents at state and federal level.
They include Sophie Scamps and Zali Steggall, for whom Ms Scruby has worked as an advisor advocating directly to ministers.
"People in Pittwater really want a voice at the table at the federal and state level," Ms Scruby, 41, told AAP.
"We have a minority government (in NSW), we know independents have a seat at the table and that they're able to deliver."
Voters were concerned about the rising cost of living, keeping businesses open, protecting the area's unique local environment and having an MP with integrity, she said.
"The alternative is a backbencher who is completely distracted with the absolute chaos that's going on with the NSW Liberal Party's ongoing scandals," she said.
Amon, a first-term MP, quit on Friday hours after being charged with sexually abusing a boy in 2017, allegations he denies.
The Liberals will pre-select a candidate on Wednesday and outgoing Northern Beaches Council deputy mayor Georgia Ryburn has thrown her hand up.
She was a victim of the Liberal Party's calamitous failure to nominate candidates for a stack of councils at upcoming local government elections.
Manly MP and Liberal frontbencher James Griffin said his party had great potential candidates who would ensure the seat had "effective and passionate representation".
"Pittwater residents deserve a representative that will fight for their interests, not one that will let Labor off the hook," he said.
Jacqui Scruby had support from teal-focused fundraiser Climate 200 in 2023. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Ms Scruby enjoyed some support from teal-focused fundraising giant Climate 200 and the Holmes a Court family in 2023.
She said she would welcome donations again from those aligned with her core policies, including potentially disillusioned Liberal voters.
"I will go through a vetting process," she said.
"In the last election, I did reject a donation."
The Pittwater by-election will take place on October 19, the same date as votes for two other formerly Liberal-held seats.
The party has already nominated candidates for Epping and Hornsby, vacated by the quick-fire resignations of ex-premier Dominic Perrottet and ex-treasurer Matt Kean.
Premier Chris Minns said it was "highly unlikely" Labor would run in any of the seats due to the resources involved and "negligible" chance the party would win.
Confirmation of that plan could provide an early boost to the Scruby campaign.
At least 1000 Labor voters in 2023 did not have a say in the final count under NSW's optional preferential voting system.
25°C