THE Liberal Party has selected its three Illawarra candidates for next year's state election but will not announce the successful trio until later this week.
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Kiama MP Gareth Ward said candidates had been endorsed by the party on Saturday, with only one person nominated in each electorate.
Mr Ward was unable to reveal the identities of his running mates until the group had been officially ratified by the party executive, but said the vote had gone "as expected".
It has previously been reported that 21-year-old race car driver Cameron Walters is the frontrunner to take on Labor powerhouse Noreen Hay in Wollongong and accountant Mark Jones as the likely candidate for Shellharbour.
It is understood the Liberals' third hopeful to challenge Ryan Park for the seat of Keira, will be party stalwart Phillip Clifford.
Mr Ward said he'd asked the party executive to expedite the ratification process, and hoped to announce the names mid-week.
"We will have a strong team in the Illawarra with a great story to tell," he said.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson welcomed the announcement a Liberal opponent had been selected to challenge her, saying there was no greater honour than to be endorsed by your own political party as a candidate for election.
"I look forward to a clean and fair campaign based on the issues and our respective political positions," she said.
Ms Watson reiterated her priorities for the March election, including construction of the Albion Park Rail bypass; upgrading Shellharbour Hospital; restoring the Lake Illawarra Authority and securing more funding for roads in West Dapto.
