FORMER Indigo Shire mayor James Trenery will represent the Liberal Party to contest the federal seat of Indi at the next federal election.

Local Liberal Party members gathered at Benalla's Lakeside Community Centre on Saturday where Mr Trenery defeated former logging industry stalwart and current finance broker Michael McKinnell and logistics specialist Travis Vincent in a party preselection.

Mr Trenery won a majority of the ballots in the first round of voting.

Federal electorate conference chair Tony Schneider said the former mayor’s local government experience with the Indigo Shire Council made him an ideal candidate.

“He knows his community pretty well; to be re-elected as a mayor is no small feat,” he said.

“I think he’s wise in the ways of politics, being able to negotiate outcomes and all of the things required from a good member of parliament.

“He’s the focal point of the local Liberal Party now, which is a great thing for people to have a candidate to be able to coalesce around.

“I’m looking forward to good things and I’m confident he’s going to do some really good work.”

Mr Trenery served on the Indigo Shire Council from 2012 to 2020 and was its mayor from 2015-16.

After his time at Indigo Shire, the Talgarno resident held positions as media adviser for former Liberal Democrats MP Tim Quilty, and electorate officer for One Nation MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell.

Mr Trenery currently operates Lavington-based transport business Keats Freight.

The former mayor said one of his main priorities for the region if elected will be protecting and preserving the region’s prime agricultural land from proposed battery and solar farm projects, including the Meadow Creek solar farm.

“The people of Indi deserve a real voice in a government that is focused on delivering for regional communities,” he said.

“Under Labor, the cost of energy is going up, and people are finding it tougher than ever.

"The next election is an opportunity for local residents to vote for a lower cost of living.

“I will also be fighting for better local health services across Indi, which are now at serious risk under Labor.”

At the 2022 federal election, candidate Ross Lyman and the Liberal Party's primary vote in Indi dropped by 4.47 per cent on the previous election, attaining just 30.52 per cent of the seat's primary count.

Mr Schneider admitted it would be tough to deny current incumbent Helen Haines of a third term in parliament as member for Indi, but if someone was going to challenge the Independent MP, it would be Mr Trenery.

“Having lived and worked in the area around Wodonga and Indigo Valley, he knows those areas really well and that’s where most of the population resides, so that’s definitely a benefit,” he said.

“It’s going to be a hard job, we don’t underestimate the enormity of the task of trying to unseat an incumbent independent who’s very well entrenched, has been there for two terms and is running for a third.

“But you’ve got to give it your best shot and you’ve got to put up your best people, and I think we’ve done that.

“I think we’ve given people a real choice of candidates, so it will come down to what the voters think on the day.”

Senator Sarah Henderson also attended the Indi preselection on Saturday afternoon, representing the party's federal leader Peter Dutton.

Senator Henderson said Mr Trenery would offer a genuine choice to communities across Indi.

“Regrettably, the current independent MP has too often sided with Labor and the Greens rather than put the needs of local families, farmers and small businesses first,” she said.

“This includes backing Anthony Albanese’s reckless plan to shut down 90 per cent of baseload power by 2035, which will destroy precious farmland and push the cost of living higher for families across the electorate.

“Winning the seat of Indi is a crucial part of the Liberal’s plan to get Australia back on track under the leadership of Peter Dutton.”