Independent for Grey, a group which describes itself as a “community-driven initiative dedicated to securing better representation for the electorate of Grey”, announced this week that it is seeking a candidate to stand for the federal seat currently held by Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey.

Ramsey has been the Member for Grey since 2007 but announced in March that he would not be standing again. He holds the seat on a 10.1 per cent margin over Labor.

Grey covers more than 92 per cent of South Australia’s land mass and stretches from the New South Wales to the Western Australian border.

InDaily reported earlier this month that the Liberal Party was anticipating a challenge in Grey from the Climate 200 fundraising group, which bankrolled the teal independent wave at the last federal election.

Climate 200 executive director Byron Fay has previously said that Grey “has all the markings of a seat that is ready to fall to an independent”.

He also said earlier this month that the Independent for Grey group is “going from strength to strength, engaging with the community and hosting kitchen table conversations to hear people’s concerns”.

A media release distributed by Independent for Grey on Wednesday provides contact details for Sevenseas Creative, a Port Lincoln-based consultancy that lists Andrea Broadfoot as one of its directors.

Broadfoot has run twice for Grey in 2016 and 2019 under the Nick Xenophon Team and Centre Alliance banner.

In 2016, she nearly defeated Ramsey with 48 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote but fell off in 2019 with only 5.1 per cent of the primary vote.

Broadfoot told InDaily this afternoon she was not running for the seat herself but is on a panel of around 10 people to select the independent candidate.

“We’re running a really comprehensive community engagement process over the next few months,” Broadfoot said, adding that the group is expecting to select their new candidate around November.

Independent for Grey’s newly established website says it is “so far” funded by small-scale donations of “time and money from members of our community”.

Asked whether Independent for Grey was interested in support from Climate 200, Broadfoot said the group is “open to support” from organisations that are “aligned with the values of the group”.

“Everything’s on the table,” she said.

The group said it has already commenced a “community listening process” and is taking expressions of interest from potential candidates.

“We seek a candidate who understands the value of evidence-based policies, values integrity, transparency, and long-term thinking, and is committed to the health and wellbeing of the people of Grey,” the website states.

“The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the economic, environmental, and social drivers of Grey, be willing to learn, and be dedicated to getting things done.”

Climate 200 supported Wudinna bakery manager Liz Habermann’s campaign in Grey at the 2022 election. After announcing her candidacy a month out from the election, she finished third behind the two major parties with 11.3 per cent of the vote.

The independent candidate chosen in Grey will face off against one of five Liberal Party candidates that have nominated for preselection.

Kimba mayor and Local Government Association president Dean Johnson and Barunga Grains farming manager Tom Venning – nephew of former Schubert MP Ivan Venning – are among the five nominees.

Rikki Lambert, a former chief of staff to Family First senator Bob Day, also nominated along with former United Australia Party candidate Suzanne Waters and Whyalla police officer Matt Sampson.