It was announced Friday that Cr Fagan, along with four other women from the Cootamundra electorate will be putting their hands up for pre-selection at a meeting of party members in Cootamundra on Sunday, August 27. 

Cr Fagan will be up against Steph Cooke (Young), Miriam Dayhew (Wagga Wagga), Rachel Smith (Cootamundra), and Wendy Tuckerman (Boorowa). 

Cr Fagan said her years’ of experience in local government and small business and her desire to take her political career to the next level inspired her to stand. 

“There is a strong field of candidates and I’ve put my hand up because I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said. 

“I just think this is the opportunity I’ve got to do things at a state level, which I really, really, really want to do so I’m very excited for the opportunity to take on that role.

“I've always been keen to be involved in politics and I think that Katrina’s done a great job but I’d like to have the opportunity to look after the Cootamundra electorate and I feel I have all the skills and knowledge and necessary requirements to do that with enthusiasm and passion.”

Cr Fagan said her involvement with the National Party on a local level, including her bid for Cowra to host next year’s NSW National Party Conference, also influenced her decision to stand. 

“I’ve been involved in the National Party for quite a long time, in the last three years I’ve been really involved and I’ve actually been elected to the Central Executive and the fact that we did the bid for Cowra to hold the National Party conference next year,” she said. 

“I’m Chairman of the local branch and I’m also the Vice-President of Cootamundra and the Riverina Electorate Councils so I’ve got quite a long involvement in the National Party.”

This is the first time in the party’s 98-year history that an all-female field will be up for preselection with a party spokesman saying no men had put their hand up for the role. 

Cr Fagan said it was an exciting time for the NSW National Party. 

“I really encourage that (more women in politics) and there is a strong field of candidates,” she said. 

Cr Fagan said despite the backlash towards the National Party in the past year due to council mergers and the greyhound ban, she is confident the National Party will retain the seat. 

“Katrina has done a great job and there is huge following for the National Party. It’s the safest seat in NSW,” she said. 

“There have been some difficulties with what’s been done in the past and I acknowledge that… but I think we move on from there and I’d like to have my say in the National Party and as the Member for Cootamundra.”

The Nationals also face increasing support the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party, who plan to announce their candidate soon. 

“We have five strong candidates for pre-selection so that shows the strength of the National Party in the Cootamundra electorate.”

Here is the background information provided by The NSW Nationals on each Cootamundra candidate:

Steph Cooke: A local businesswoman who owns florists ‘Native Botanical’ and who had a former corporate career at major companies Coca Cola, Allied Mills, Goodman Fielder and the Baking Industry of NSW.

Miriam Dayhew: A former nurse and midwife with a 30 year career in health administration, Miriam is currently Ombudsman and Head of Campus at the Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga.

Ruth Fagan: Living in Cowra for 34 years, Ruth has worked as a journalist, tourism manager and has run a number of small businesses in town including a gift shop, a motel, a vineyard and now ‘The Closet’ dress shop. Ruth was first elected to Cowra Council in 2004.

Rachel Smith: Rachel is veterinarian who lives with her husband and three children on a mixed cropping and sheep property between Young and Cootamundra. Her mother is Shelley Hancock, the first female Speaker in the NSW Parliament.

Wendy Tuckerman: After spending 14-years with the Australian Federal Police Wendy and her husband settled on a farm near Boorowa where she was elected to Boorowa Council and served as Deputy Mayor from 2005-2007 and as Mayor from 2007-2016.

A date for the by-election is yet to be set by state government.