She's the Family First candidate for Gilmore, but like a cliched toothbrush advertisement, we can't show you her face.Despite throwing her hat into the ring, Elizabeth Cunningham has refused to speak publicly and has not yet stepped out onto the campaign trail to meet her constituents.The Family First candidate didn't attend the announcement of official candidate nominations and drawing of ballot positions for Gilmore in Nowra on Friday - her name will appear third on the ballot paper however.
EDITORIAL: Party offers up faceless candidate VOTE: Should Family First candidate Elizabeth Cunningham directly address Gilmore constituents? Family First state director Phil Lamb said Ms Cunningham, a factory worker, was "not willing to speak publicly," and she had asked that her contact details not be released.But he said she represented the party's family-oriented values and described her as a "common sense conservative"."Elizabeth is passionate to see families represented and stand for ordinary Australians in the House of Representatives," he said.Established in 2002, Family First gained early success with Senator Steve Fielding elected to Federal Parliament two years later. The party has put forward candidates to contest 16 marginal seats.Gilmore Labor candidate Neil Reilly said he did not see the point in being a candidate without being prepared to meet voters."I find it bizarre that a candidate would have their name on a public ballot paper but refuse contact with the community they seek to represent, it says we don't value you," Mr Reilly said."While I have passionate discussions with others on the ballot, at least they are prepared to put their ideas and policies forward."Liberal incumbent Joanna Gash has given the mysterious Family First candidate her second preference based purely on the conservative party's values, but is yet to meet her."Family First is more in keeping with what I'm doing, that's the arrangements we've made," she said. "Even though we have a how to vote card we would encourage people to vote how they see fit."When attempting to contact Family First leader Steven Fielding yesterday, the Mercury was directed back to the state office for comment.The Mercury understands Ms Cunningham does not reside in the Gilmore electorate.
