There are partisan members of the community who are unable to acknowledge that Leslie Williams earned the right to the confidence of the voters who elected her to the Port Macquarie seat in the NSW elections just held.
She received a remarkable swing of 34 -35 per cent (counting continues) from the by-election  n 2008, when she went head to head with the same opponent, Peter Besseling.
The Rob Oakeshott influence, because of his well known position as Peter Besseling’s mentor which tarred Peter with the same Labor brush, was a factor. But never to a percentage of 35 per cent.
Leslie Williams deserved her success with her persistence and continuous community work, which she has demonstrated for over a decade.
She also attracted a strong team of volunteers about her who believed in her.
This team opened a campaign office in September 2010, and ran an outstanding campaign which certainly helped.
It is my belief that Leslie will go on to become a legend as our member.
Rodger Alden
Port Macquarie
