But insiders say he will try to win preselection for a State Liberal seat in the North-West at the May 2011 elections, upsetting the ambitions of other card-carrying right-wing conservatives, or even a sitting MP.

Mr Elliott (pictured) stood unsuccessfully against 29-year-old Alex Hawke for the Federal seat of Mitchell at the last election.

A Liberal for 22 years, having joined the party just after his 16th birthday, he has been linked to a raft of candidates set to contest Dr Nelson's blue-ribbon North Shore seat after the doctor announced recently that he was stepping down. In a pointed dig at long-serving MPs, like the Hills-based MP, Philip Ruddock in parliament for 36 years and staying put, but likely to be challenged for preselection Dr Nelson said: ``It was time to give somebody else a go.'' Someone of cabinet minister material.

But it won't be David Elliott, former research officer for ex-Prime Minister John Howard, NSW Police Service media liaison officer, regular army officer and former Australian Hotels Association deputy chief executive.

Mr Elliott told the Hills News yesterday he had never expressed an interest in Bradfield. ``In fact, I have a contract as the CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation until at least January 2011 after which I hope to be spending more time with NSW opposition leader Barry O'Farrell,'' he said. ``Furthermore, I have not been to Pymble in my life and if I nominated again it would be in a seat closer to our North-Western Sydney home of Kellyville.'' Mr Elliott refused to elaborate, which will lead to much speculation.

It's known he has the support of MLC David Clarke, controversial leader of the so-called Christian Right of the party and a back-room wheeler-dealer. He has also been speaking to supporters about Riverstone, and even Baulkham Hills, in the unlikely event Wayne Merton, decides to step down.