Dr David Gillespie.
WAUCHOPE'S Reg Pierce has lost out in the preselection battle to represent The Nationals in the federal seat of Lyne.
Mr Pierce was one of six candidates up for preselection on Sunday.
The successful candidate was Dr David Gillespie.
Dr Gillespie beat fellow preselection candidates former councillor and business owner Jamie Harrison, Army officer Captain Brett Sprague, Port Macquarie Panthers general manager Russell Cooper, IT systems engineer Aaron Mendham and Mr Pierce.
Dr Gillespie represented The Nationals at the 2010 election, and lost to Mr Oakeshott.
About 200 party members from throughout the electorate, including Taree, Wingham and Wauchope gathered at Port Macquarie Panthers to vote.
The much-anticipated announcement will see the 54-year-old go head-to-head with incumbent MP Rob Oakeshott next year.
"I'm honoured that the party has chosen me and I'm feeling very proud," Dr Gillespie said.
Meanwhile, Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott has asked Mr Gillespie to 'go back to his notes' on the Nationals' emissions reduction target.
"On ABC Mid-North Coast radio this morning (Monday), the two-time National Party candidate for Lyne David Gillespie said the next federal election would be a referendum on carbon pricing," Mr Oakeshott said.
"When asked what his, or his National Party, position on carbon pricing was, he stated: "I'll have to go back to my notes".
"Some referendum.
"After Mr Gillespie has gone "back to his notes", I invite him to do what all National Party MPs have failed to do - explain the National Party strategy to get to a 5 per cent emissions reduction by 2020," Mr Oakeshott said.
Meanwhile Mr Pierce has confirmed he will now stand for election as mayor and councillor in the September Local Government elections.
"The amount of people who have come up to me in the street and last night (on Sunday after the preselection) has been fantastic," he said.
"I have had plenty of people urging me to stand for Mayor. (It is) unbelieveable the amount of support I have received.
"I wasn't going to (stand for local government), but I have been fielding plenty of calls from people offering me their support."
"The support is just great."
