While sitting councillors Brian Adamthwaite and Barney Langford will stand again in north ward, four fresh faces have been endorsed to contest the west and east ward polls. 

Adam Schultz, a 32-year-old business and public policy professional from Valentine who volunteered on the 2012 Obama campaign, is the number one candidate for east ward, with Christine Buckley, of Floraville, second on the ticket.

David Belcher and Garth Weiley, both of Morisset, will stand in the west ward.

Elections for councils subject to amalgamation are likely to be held over until March 2017, but non-merging councils, including Lake Macquarie and Cessnock, have been advised to plan for polls on September 10.

Labor mayor of Lake Macquarie and state Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison must stand down at the election due to laws that prevent MPs from sitting on local councils. Labor councillors Chad Griffith and Daniel Wallace, the Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary, are also standing down.

Cr Fraser, of Valentine, has served on Lake Macquarie council for 12 years and is in her fourth term representing east ward. She was endorsed as mayoral candidate over fellow nominee Cr Adamthwaite in a rank and file ballot of about 200 party members 

“I am very chuffed that the rank and file selected me, it is an honour and a privilege,” she said. 

“Nominating for mayor was something I had considered on and off for some time – with the experience of 12 years on council, I thought it was time I stepped up.”

The Labor Party has also finalised candidates to stand for Cessnock council, with incumbent mayor Bob Pynsent elected unopposed to contest a second term. 

Other candidates are Mark Lyons, James Hawkins and James Hawkins (A ward); Jay Suvaal and Damien Wallace (B ward); Melanie Dagg, Anne Sander and Allan McCudden (C ward) and Darrin Gray, Anthony Burke and Alex Horne (D ward).