Delma Baesjou claims the Nationals WA’s historic Albany candidacy

Planning consultant Delma Baesjou has secured the Nationals WA’s candidacy for the seat of Albany. Ms Baesjou was announced the winner of the party’s historic community pre-selection process on Saturday night. In July, Ms Baejou was revealed as one of three nominees vying for the candidacy, alongside Rod Pfeiffer and Darren Bennett. Dubbed by leader Mia Davies as a “risky” move, party members and delegates were brushed aside by the Nationals WA to determine who would contend for the Great Southern’s marquee electorate at March’s State election. Anyone registered as an Albany resident on the electoral roll was eligible to vote in what is understood to have been a first in WA political history. With veteran Labor MP Peter Watson — who has held Albany since 2001 — retiring at the next election, the seat is expected be one of the most fiercely contested in WA. Ms Baesjou will run against Labor’s Rebecca Stephens, the Liberal Party’s Scott Leary and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation’s Michelle Kinsella. The Greens are yet to announce a candidate. Ms Baesjou described the past six weeks of campaigning as an “interesting whirlwind”. “It launched me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “The opportunity to meet with community groups ... getting out and reconnecting with people to get an understanding of what their issues and concerns re-grounded me.” As an Albany resident of 32 years, Ms Baesjou credited her connection with the region as an advantage over Mr Pfeiffer and Mr Bennett at the ballot. Before announcing Ms Baesjou as the party’s 2021 candidate, Ms Davies told party members all three nominees had had “comprehensive wins” at certain polling booths across the electorate. Electors who voted at the party’s CBD and Wellstead booths are understood to have rallied behind Ms Baesjou. She said she believed she had won votes from the town’s business community and elderly residents.