Cr Sali, mayor of the City of Greater Shepparton since 2022, said his nomination had been accepted by the party and he would face a preselection contest on Saturday, 5 September, against prosecutor Alexander Lew.

The contest follows an announcement in July by sitting Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe that she would not recontest her seat.

Cr Sali said the electorate “deserves a strong voice in parliament — someone who understands local issues, listens and fights for practical outcomes.” He said he chose the Nationals because they were “the party that puts regional Victoria first.”

Cr Sali confirmed he will remain as mayor throughout the preselection process and will take steps to manage conflicts of interest, including handing responsibilities to Deputy Mayor Geoff Akers when required.

His preselection opponent, Mr Lew, welcomed the contest, telling The Shepparton News that members now had a clear choice between his front-line legal experience and Cr Sali’s candidacy. Mr Lew said he would respect the outcome and would not run as an independent or for another party if unsuccessful, and called on Cr Sali to make the same commitment.

Mr Lew is a former Stonnington City councillor, serving for two yearss from 2020 until his resignation in 2022