The Country Liberal Party has announced four candidates for the forthcoming August election, as part of a gradual rollout of candidates for all electorates, but have continued to avoid questions about why it attempted to install a man with a previous conviction for threatening to kill police officers as its election campaign manager.

Candidates for the Wanguri, Port Darwin, Fannie Bay and Nightcliff seats were announced this week, led by health professional Robyn Cahill, who will contest the Port Darwin electorate.

Ms Cahill, a professional in the NT’s healthcare sector, who is married to Len Notaras, was the former executive director of the Australian Medical Association and has run the Darwin Private Hospital. She currently runs the GP Superclinic in Palmerston.

She said she was running to end the “crisis” in the healthcare system, bring back “opportunities” for business and attract people ot the NT.

“The NT I came to has disappeared, the opportunities and choices continue to decline; businesses aren’t starting, they’re shutting, we can’t keep going this way,” she said in a statement.

“The healthcare system is in crisis, and we can’t attract and retain the professionals we need. Practices are closing, and elective surgery wait times are ridiculous. We need strong economic and population growth to fix it, and I know the CLP team can achieve it.”

CLP’s Wanguri aspirant Oly Carlson, who has experience in the financial services industry, said she intends to focus on the NT’s declining education standards and support for kids.

Darwin-born and raised, she has served 25 years at the Commonwealth Bank in the Darwin CBD.

She said the NT, notably Darwin, has changed since her childhood: “As kids, we had an incredible lifestyle and the choice to be whoever we wanted to be… Now, our lifestyle and community have changed, we live in fear, and our choices have been taken away”.

“Darwin is too important to us, and I’m standing up to make a change.”

CLP president Shane Stone claimed the party had been “inundated by experienced and passionate people wanting to run for the CLP”, but is yet to explain why he tried to put his mate Ashley Manicaros in the role of election campaign manager.

“We’ve preselected a diverse team of the highest calibre, and every single one of them is sick of what Labor has done to the Territory and is putting their hand up to make a change.”

The CLP said senior Larrakia Elder Helen Secretary has been fighting for the Territory for generations which led to her being preselected by the party to run against former chief minister Natasha Fyles in Nightcliff.

The party later divulged that it is aware of an incident in which Ms Secretary was convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of her sleeping husband in 1994, but that the conviction was overturned in 1998. Ms Secretary had argued at the time that she had been mentally and physically abused by her husband for years.

She said in the party statement that she wanted to help make the Territory safe.

“I put my hand up to fight for the people of Nightcliff because I am a proud local, and I want to be part of the solution to making the Territory safe and the place of opportunity,” Ms Secretary said.

Her extensive experience as chairperson of Gwala Daraniki Association and involvement across various economic and social organisations gives her a critical insight into how we can better grow the Territory, she said.

“The CLP is about empowering Territorians to achieve their dreams and take responsibility for their future, and I am proud to have the opportunity to represent the people of Nightcliff,” she said.

CLP Fannie Bay candidate Laurie Zio said she would not stand by and watch the Territory be dragged backwards under Labor.

“I have put up my hand to take on Brent Potter because he has not been accountable to the people of Fannie Bay for his failure to support our police, hold criminals accountable and create a safe and strong environment for the business community,” said Ms Zio, who has lived in the Territory since 1994.

A wife of a serving police officer and mother of three, she is focused on fighting for safer streets, economic growth and quality education for kids, she said.

“Under Labor, the Territory is going backwards… I want change in August for my family and families in Fannie Bay who are tired of being told this is the new normal.”

CLP Leader Lia Finocchiaro welcomed the new candidates, saying the party is ready to govern for a safe and strong Territory, but has still not said if she supported Mr Manicaros in the role of campaign manager.

“The diversity of our team is a great strength, and I know our deep connection to the community is what sets us apart from Labor, who are hiding from their failures,” she said.

However, Ms Finocchiaro has refused to answer questions about whether she supported party president Shane Stone in his attempt to bring his mate and former staffer Ashley Manicaros into the role of election campaign manager after he had allegedly sent “threatening and harassing” messages to Senator Jacinta Price.

Ms Price told the party at the central council meeting on Saturday that she did not feel safe in the party with Mr Manicaros involved. Mr Manicaros has a previous conviction for threatening to kill police officers in 2004. Mr Stone also would not comment on the issue, while party members had questioned his judgment in backing Mr Manicaros for such an important role.

Mr Manicaros’ membership application was defeated by the management committee on Saturday in a humiliating defeat for Mr Stone.