Vic: Kroger to quit as Vic Libs president

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2006
Vic: Kroger to quit as Vic Libs president

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 AAP - The Victorian Liberals state president Helen Kroger is stepping
down after three years, a senior Liberal MP confirmed today.

Speculation has been mounting that Ms Kroger will do so to pursue a parliamentary career,
possibly to replace Senator Kay Patterson who is retiring at the next election.

The state opposition's treasury spokesman Robert Clark put a partial end to the rumours
today, confirming Ms Kroger is resigning.

"She's served a number of years as president and now she's moving on to other things
and someone else will be elected at our state council in March," Mr Clark told reporters
today.

Mr Clark gave no indication of who was likely to replace Ms Kroger or what course she
would take after her presidency.

Ms Kroger is close to federal Treasurer Peter Costello and her resignation comes as
the party prepares to fight out a tough state election campaign led by Robert Doyle ahead
of the November poll this year.

But Mr Clark said there was "no particular suggestion that Helen's stepping down prematurely".

"Helen will have served three years as party president.

"That's the conventional period of time for which party presidents serve.

"It's nothing unexpected that Helen is following that course.

"That has been pattern over many years that party presidents serve a number of years
they then move on and a new person takes up that position."

Ms Kroger has not been returning media calls this week.

AAP nl/gfr/cjh/de

KEYWORD: KROGER

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