Instead,Ryburn will be kicked off the council after September 14 because the NSW Liberals failed to nominate a single candidate for the Northern Beaches Council.
In a bid to save her political career,senior Liberals are urging Ryburn to run for federal parliament,seeing her as the best chance to beat Scamps. Ryburn did not respond to questions about the federal move.
Other candidates likely to put their hand up for preselection include former RSL chief James Brown and disability campaigner David Brady.
However,senior Liberals,who are not allowed to speak publicly about preselections,said the party must run a woman to have any hope of unseating Scamps.
The party opened nominations for Mackellar and Warringah on Wednesday,but has not set a closing date because senior operatives are searching for the best candidates to take on Scamps,as well as Warringah independent Zali Steggall.
Barrister and rising Liberal star Jane Buncle,who withdrew her nomination to run in Warringah before the last federal election,has ruled out running against Steggall.