REDLANDS MP Peter Dowling will find out if he is the LNP candidate for the state seat when members of the Redlands SEC branch hold a secret ballot on Saturday, October 25.
Mr Dowling's name will be the only one on the ballot for LNP pre-selection for the seat, after young aspiring politician Mark Neville, who works for Cleveland MP Mark Robinson, did not make it through the party's first round of vetting.
Prior to last week's vetting process there had been concerns about branch stacking which has been denied by senior Redlands SEC members, including Mr Dowling's brother-in-law Redland City councillor Lance Hewlett, who is the chair of the branch.
Mr Dowling's sister, Sheena Hewlett, is the branch treasurer and secretary.
The branch's 170 members received letters informing them of the pre-selection ballot on Friday.
To vote, members must attend the pre-selection in person. LNP nominations closed on September 12.
Registration for the ballot will be held at the Redland Bay Community Hall, Weinam Street, at 2pm with doors locked at 3pm.
Members will be asked to vote “yes” or “no” to the question of whether Mr Dowling should be endorsed by the party.
Should members decide Mr Dowling should not be selected for endorsement, the LNP will re-open nominations in the seat, which covers Cornubia, Redland Bay, parts of Mount Cotton, the bay islands, Victoria Point and parts of Thornlands.
Members will be required to show photographic identification or their LNP membership card to register.
The seat has been a focal point in the party since Mr Dowling was involved in a 2013 text message scandal in which he photographed his penis in a glass of red wine and sent it to his lover.
Mr Dowling denied there was tension within the local SEC, saying membership was strong and broad based, bringing together members from former National and Liberal parties.
