ORANGE councillor Sam Romano has been confirmed as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate for the seat of Calare at next month's federal election.
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The party had planned to announced Cr Romano's candidacy on Monday but confirmed on Friday that rumours he would run were correct.
"There was a preselection and a number of candidates were interviewed - he is a member of the party and has some profile in Orange," SFF communications director Oliver Jacques said.
"It's been very challenging given the timeframe and we've just come out of a state campaign. The candidates who won Murray and Barwon, and Phil [Donato, Member for Orange], were well known for a long time."
Cr Romano said it was "an honour and a privilege" to be chosen, but would not comment on his policy position until Monday.
"I'm happy to do it," he said.
Cr Romano led a Shooters, Fishers and Farmers ticket at the 2017 Orange City Council election.
Receiving almost 14 per cent of the primary vote among a record-breaking field of 88 candidates, the SFF ticket was the only one to have two candidates elected.
Cr Romano was elected first and Mario Previtera was elected ninth and Cr Romano was elected deputy mayor by his peers in September.
He will contest the Calare poll against Nationals incumbent Andrew Gee and Labor candidate Jess Jennings.
At last month's state election, SFF candidate Mr Donato received 49 per cent of the primary vote in Orange while in Bathurst, SFF candidate Brenden May received just 14.7 per cent against The Nationals' Paul Toole.