THE Liberal Party’s candidate for the seat of Corangamite at the next federal election will put her job on hold to campaign full-time.

Sarah Henderson visited Colac after the Liberal Party selected her as its candidate to challenge Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman at the next federal election.

Ms Henderson, a government relations consultant with Melbourne company Clifton Group, contested Corangamite for the Liberals at the last election, losing to Mr Cheeseman by a handful of votes.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is unlikely to call a federal election until at least September 2013, more than a year away.

Ms Henderson won the majority of support from 362 delegates in Sunday’s pre-selection vote.

“The win I had on Sunday was a very decisive win, I received well over 50 per cent of the vote in the first ballot of an exhaustive ballot,” she said.

Allegations of “dirty tricks” marred the pre-selection campaign between Ms Henderson, Geelong physiotherapist Marcus Dripps and former Howard government advisor Rod Nockles.

Liberal Party state director Damian Mantach investigated the candidates and their conduct before the vote.

Ms Henderson said Mr Mantach told delegates on Sunday he had closed the investigation.

“A number of party members were counselled, there were no findings against any of the candidates and he reminded pre-selectors about the fact that it was prohibited to distribute material that may influence a pre-selection,” she said.

“So the investigation has closed, we all move on and we now focus on the real job of defeating Labor.”

Ms Henderson said she would campaign on cost-of-living issues, retaining jobs, roads and boosting the economy.

“I’m very determined as the candidate for the Liberal Party here in Corangamite to run a very hard-fought campaign and help deliver responsible government,” she said.