By Paul Hemsley

Local Government Association of South Australia President David O’Loughlin will seek to enter state politics after he revealed he will stand for the seat of Adelaide at the March 2014 State Election as an Australian Labor Party candidate.

In a well-trodden path between tiers of government, Mr O’Loughlin has moved to formalise his bid for a state seat after by seeking approval from the LGA Board to take a six month leave of absence from his role as its president from 21 November 2013 until 15th April 2014.

Mr O’Loughlin was endorsed by Labor as its candidate for Adelaide on 1st October 2013. The state election is set for 15th March 2014.

Mr O’Loughlin has acknowledged that his standing could potentially “raise some concerns” about whether he will be able to “fight for local government issues” with the incumbent state Labor Government and to negotiate the “best election promises” from the Liberal Opposition and minor parties in the lead-up to the state election.

Mr O’Loughlin said that the LGA’s immediate past president Mayor Kym McHugh and metropolitan Vice President Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg will fill-in until an Acting President can be appointed at the next board meeting.

He said the timeframe longer timeframe allowed for “suitable buffer” before the election and a four week period after the election results have been determined.

“If I am unsuccessful in my candidacy for the seat of Adelaide, I intend to resume my role as President of the Local Government Association of SA,” Mr O’Loughlin said.