David Boyle, former Labor candidate for the federal seat of Gilmore, plans to resurrect his political career at the Shellharbour City Council elections.The former footballer (below) is considering running for council in September and said he would put his hand up for mayor if he was elected and the ALP backed him for the job.Mr Boyle was parachuted into Gilmore as Labor’s candidate in the 2010 federal election but stepped aside after a rank-and-file revolt.He said he held no grudges against the members who rejected him.‘‘They’ve certainly said that they’re happy for me to stay around and that I certainly should stay around,’’ he said. ‘‘I just want to make sure that I have rank-and-file support.’’Labor’s strategy for the Shellharbour election remains unclear after the State Government abolished wards and slashed councillor numbers from 13 to seven earlier this month.The councillors, not the community, will also elect the mayor.Several Labor branch members have indicated their intention to stand, but the party has not confirmed if it will run a ticket in what has traditionally been a Labor stronghold.Former Shellharbour mayor David Hamilton said yesterday he would not contest the election.He also claimed the O'Farrell government's Shellharbour shake-up was politically motivated."I don't believe [Premier] Barry O'Farrell is doing this for the community interest, I believe [he] is doing this for ... political self-interest," he said.Potential Labor candidate and former state MP Marianne Saliba also said the changes, including the introduction of proportional representation, were for political reasons."I just think the only reason it's been introduced ... is the NSW Liberal Party think that's the best way for them to get representatives on the Shellharbour council," she said.The State Government has previously said proportional representation allows for "a more diverse representation".Meantime, the Mercury understands the Liberal Party will run a ticket of candidates in Shellharbour as well as Wollongong.Defeated state candidate Larissa Mallinson said she would run for preselection for the Liberal ticket."I think the last government Shellharbour had was not very good [and] I just think I could do a better job," she said.Barrack Heights mother and St Vincent de Paul Society youth worker Kellie Marsh, 40, will also stand in the preselection for the Liberal ticket, as will Flinders resident Paul Rankin, 42.