Rockingham deputy mayor announces by-election candidacy

Rockingham deputy mayor Hayley Edwards has thrown her hat in the ring to replace Mark McGowan as Rockingham MP.

Ms Edwards will run as an independent in the by-election on July 29.

She has been a councillor at the City of Rockingham for four years and was elected deputy mayor in 2021.

Ms Edwards was previously an Air Force medic and currently lives in the Rockingham area with her husband and four children.

"I am self-made, I am a working Mum, my husband and I have 4 children and we understand the financial pressures families are facing," she said.

"I run two businesses, with one being in the local area, and I've had the privilege to meet and work with tons of people across our community. 

"I've had the privilege of living in many parts of Australia with my diverse career, and we chose Rockingham as the place to call our home, we love it here, and we owe Rockingham so much.

"We deserve significant investment and infrastructure to prepare our City for the future, we need to plan for future generations." 

Ms Edwards announced in May that she would not contest the next Rockingham local government election, citing time off with her family.

She will be up against Labor candidate Magenta Marshall and Liberal's Peter Hudson in next month's by-election.