Katrina Hodgkinson collected over 70 per cent of the vote in 2015, but fury over council and police LAC mergers have prompted an unlikely alliance. 

“This government has taken Cootamundra for granted way too long, we’re looking for change,” Labor candidate Charlie Sheahan said. 

“I’ve spent three years fighting to draw attention to forced council mergers, electricity prices, erosion of health and hospitals. I welcome the other voice opposing these in the Shooters.” 

Labor have preferenced the Shooters third after the Greens with the Shooters’ preferences falling to the Christian Democratic Party, then Labor. 

Shots were fired after Nationals candidate Steph Cooke after she attended a Cowra business evening over the Gundagai candidates forum on Wednesday.

“It’s not a good look to have a shire recently merged looking for answers and she went to a business networking dinner,” Matthew Stadtmiller said. 

But, Ms Cooke remains positive about her chances. 

“The vast majority feel they have been pretty well represented by Katrina and the Nationals.”

“This is a simple choice of voting for the myself and the Nationals who are a party formed to represent the needs of the geographically disadvantaged or voting for a party that was established to overthrow the ban on semi automatic weapons.”

A total of 14,446 votes had been cast in pre-polling at midday on Friday.