EDILLILIE farmer Peter Treloar and Eyre Regional Development Board chief executive officer Mark Cant have nominated for preselection to be the Liberal candidate for the seat of Flinders at the 2010 State election.

Current Member Liz Penfold, who is retiring at the end of this term, said both men would be very capable candidates to run for Flinders.

“It’s good we now get a plebiscite vote so it means every member of the Liberal Party who lives in Flinders will be able to meet somewhere to decide which one of them will be the next candidate.”

Mr Treloar said he had discussed nominating with Mrs Penfold when she had announced she would be retiring “and I had some encouragement from within the (Liberal) Party and the residents of Eyre Peninsula”.

“The opportunity is here for me and the timing seems to be right.”

Mr Treloar said if elected he was keen to redress the Labor Government’s growing disregard for country people, who were being treated as “second class citizens”.

“The current Labor Government is showing an increasing disregard for country people and this has been demonstrated with the State budget, particularly with regard to transport and health.”

Mr Treloar said he believed politics should be about more than just policy.

“It’s about policy but it’s also about people; where they live and how they live.”

Mr Treloar was born in Cummins and runs a farm at Edillilie with his wife and four children.

“I’m a lifetime resident of Eyre Peninsula and the seat of Flinders and have always worked in the area and had a farming business in the area.

“I’ve always been involved in the community and public life generally.”

Mr Treloar stepped aside from his position as SAFF Grains Council chair at the SAFF annual general meeting last Friday but will remain on the grains council. He will consider his position on the council after the preselection.

Mr Cant did not want to comment at this stage.