THE first shots have been fired in what could be a fierce tussle for the Northern upper house seat of Windermere. Incumbent independent MLC Ivan Dean has been left fuming after a letterbox drop campaign accused him of supporting cuts to critical essential services. "Ivan Dean has stood by and done nothing while Tony Abbott and Will Hodgman have made savage cuts to health and education," the flyers read. The material was distributed by Labor candidate Jennifer Houston, about two months out from polling day. Ms Houston is the only contender so far to publicly challenge the seat, which covers northern Launceston, East Tamar and George Town. Nominations don't close until April 9, with the election to be held on May 2. Mr Dean said he was furious after the pamphlets landed in his letterbox this week. "It is unfair, it's untrue and it's extremely disappointing," he said. "I've never supported cuts to health; I've never supported cuts to education; and I'll never support cuts to police. "I've made my position clear and known on all of these things." Ms Houston defended the content of the flyers, saying her claims were accurate. "Mr Dean's public silence on these cuts has been deafening," she said. "If he opposes them so strongly, it's his job as an elected representative to stand up and speak out against them." A two-way battle for the neighbouring seat of Rosevears reached fever pitch last year when Liberal candidate Don Morris robocalled voters to accuse rival Kerry Finch of being "just like the Greens". Ms Houston argued there was a clear distinction between their campaigns, saying Mr Finch had never sought preselection for the Greens, while Mr Dean had nominated for Liberal preselection in 2007. Mr Dean hit back, saying he was fiercely independent and had no alignment with the Liberal Party.
Windermere MLC Ivan Dean is angry about election material being distributed by an opponent.
THE first shots have been fired in what could be a fierce tussle for the Northern upper house seat of Windermere.
Incumbent independent MLC Ivan Dean has been left fuming after a letterbox drop campaign accused him of supporting cuts to critical essential services.
"Ivan Dean has stood by and done nothing while Tony Abbott and Will Hodgman have made savage cuts to health and education," the flyers read.
The material was distributed by Labor candidate Jennifer Houston, about two months out from polling day.
Ms Houston is the only contender so far to publicly challenge the seat, which covers northern Launceston, East Tamar and George Town.
Nominations don't close until April 9, with the election to be held on May 2.
Mr Dean said he was furious after the pamphlets landed in his letterbox this week.
"It is unfair, it's untrue and it's extremely disappointing," he said.
"I've never supported cuts to health; I've never supported cuts to education; and I'll never support cuts to police.
"I've made my position clear and known on all of these things."
Ms Houston defended the content of the flyers, saying her claims were accurate.
"Mr Dean's public silence on these cuts has been deafening," she said.
"If he opposes them so strongly, it's his job as an elected representative to stand up and speak out against them."
A two-way battle for the neighbouring seat of Rosevears reached fever pitch last year when Liberal candidate Don Morris robocalled voters to accuse rival Kerry Finch of being "just like the Greens".
Ms Houston argued there was a clear distinction between their campaigns, saying Mr Finch had never sought preselection for the Greens, while Mr Dean had nominated for Liberal preselection in 2007.
Mr Dean hit back, saying he was fiercely independent and had no alignment with the Liberal Party.
