Article Summary: 

City of Stirling Councillor Lisa Thornton has announced her candidacy as an independent for the state seat of Churchlands ahead of the March election. Churchlands, a historically significant seat for independents, saw strong support for federal teal candidate Kate Chaney in 2022, signalling potential voter openness to Thornton's bid. If this sentiment continues, it could challenge Liberal candidate and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas’ chances of securing the seat.

Thornton, emphasising community-focused representation, stated, “I’m running for Churchlands because our community deserves a representative who listens, acts and puts people first.” She highlighted her independence from party politics, asserting, “As an independent, I’m free from party politics and vested interests, which means I can focus 100 per cent of my efforts on delivering for the people of Churchlands.”

Key local issues include development plans around Floreat Forum, with residents concerned about increasing density. Thornton has pledged to advocate for community input and supports a third-party right of appeal in planning decisions. Her platform also includes enhancing the area’s tree canopy, improving biodiversity, and advancing climate action. To reduce political conflicts of interest, she proposes banning donations from property developers and has committed to maintaining a real-time donor wall on her campaign website, mirroring Chaney’s transparency initiative.

Churchlands has a fluctuating electoral history. Independent Liz Constable held the seat for 17 years out of its 28-year existence. Labor’s Christine Tonkin won it from the Liberals in 2021 with a narrow 0.8% margin, which increased to 1.6% after a boundary redistribution.

Thornton’s campaign makes her the third woman to run a teal-style campaign in Perth’s western suburbs, reflecting a broader trend of independent candidates gaining momentum in traditionally conservative areas.