Marketing executive Helen Healy has won the coveted number one position on the ballot paper.

Young Mildura apprentice electrician Carl Carter yesterday emerged as the Family First candidate in one of the smallest election fields in many years.

Family First leader Senator Steve Fielding will be in Mildura tomorrow to launch the little-known Mr Carter’s tilt at the safest seat in Australia.

Candidates yesterday largely agreed Mallee voters would be largely spared an advertising and billboard blitz with only three weeks to go.

No single local issue has yet emerged to engage all the candidates who say most of the nation’s attention remains with the Gillard-Abbott tussle.

Mr Carter, 25, isn’t phased about starting so late against conservative heavyweight John Forrest who has taken about three-quarters of the vote in each of his successful seven elections.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 31/07/2010.