The partner of a prominent union boss heads a list of prospective Labor candidates before next year’s state election.
Labor Party factions are due to meet on Friday morning to negotiate the carve-up of vacant and new seats.
Last month, a redistribution created two new seats in Werribee and Sunbury as well as radically shaking up old boundaries.
Both Left and Right are eyeing off the new seat of Werribee.
Emma Walters, a senior lawyer at Slater & Gordon, is being backed by the Left, who would like her to run in Werribee.
She has previously worked for Maurice Blackburn, the Australian Workers Union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Ms Walters’ partner is John Setka, CFMEU, construction and general branch Victorian secretary.
Shadow Treasurer Tim Pallas has been linked to the seat by the Right.
Party members are conscious of maintaining a unified front in Victoria but many predict that negotiation over vacant seats could get very ugly.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews wants preselections completed by December 15 so that the party can begin election campaign in the new year.
