A selection committee also endorsed Campbelltown councillor Jai Rowell as its candidate for the state seat of Wollondilly at the meeting. Cr Rowell was the only nominee.

Locally-based Liberal Upper House MP Charlie Lynn said Mr Farmer had disconnected himself with the community when he made his controversial move to Mosman and his time was up.

``If Pat didn't want to live in Macarthur any more, how could he represent his community?'' Mr Lynn asked.

``I think Russell, who lives in the area, will be a magnificent representative. He's a leader, he's strong and he'll fight for us.''

Cr Matheson, of Blairmount, a Campbelltown councillor who has been employed by NSW Police for 24 years, said politics was a late career-change.

``This will be a huge challenge and I'm looking forward to bringing local issues to federal level,'' he said.

``I won't have to resign [as a police sergeant] until the nominations and elections are called and although policing will be hard to walk away from, it's a conscious decision I've made.

``The community needs help especially with the approval of developments such as Leafs Gully, which is in my community's back yard.

``The State Government has been a basket-case lately.''

Cr Matheson wished Mr Farmer well.

``There has never been a personality clash between me and Pat,'' he said.

Mr Farmer said he would help support Mr Matheson to retain the seat for the Liberal Party.

``Obviously, I feel disappointed about the whole scenario but that's the thing about Liberal, even the sitting man can be challenged,'' he said.

``I think I lost the preselection votes because of all the publicity I received when I moved out of the electorate.

``Charlie [Lynn] thought my time was up when I was first elected and, quite frankly, I think he's been given too much oxygen for the amount of work he does anyway.''

Cr Rowell said he was looking forward to taking on Labor's Phil Costa in the seat of Wollondilly at the next state election.

``I'll be reminding people that a vote for Phil Costa will be a vote for the same broken Labor Government,'' he said.

Mr Costa was not surprised that Cr Rowell would be the candidate. ``I'll continue my focus to deliver to the people of Wollondilly,'' he said.