A community-backed independent “teal” candidate has emerged for the marginal state seat of Caulfield, three months out from the Victorian election.

Lawyer Nomi Kaltmann, who is the founder and president of the Australian branch of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, will take on deputy Liberal leader David Southwick in the ultra-marginal seat, which the Liberals hold by a margin of 0.1 per cent.

Voices for Caulfield independent candidate Nomi Kaltmann will take on deputy Liberal leader David Southwick in the ultra-marginal seat of Caulfield.

Kaltmann, who has worked for two Labor Party MPs, has the backing of Voices of Caulfield group – a new community organisation that emerged out of the successful Voices for Goldstein campaign.

The 30-year-old, a lifelong resident of Caulfield, told The Age she would run on three broad policy areas – gender equality, better representation for women and integrity.

Kaltmann, who worked for veteran Victorian Labor MP and former minister Marsha Thomson and was an electorate officer for federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, said she was inspired by the success of the teal candidates at the national election in May.

“I have been frustrated by major parties. I think party politics wastes a lot of time,” Kaltmann said.

Teal supporters and volunteers celebrate on election nightCredit:Joe Armao

“I think [standing as an independent] is an effective way to make change.”

Kaltmann, who is a mother of three, currently works as the Australian correspondent for Tablet Magazine, the largest Jewish newspaper in the US.

Alex Fein, the president of Voices of Caulfield, said the seat “deserves the best independent candidate to represent it in the parliament”.

“Nomi is a brilliant candidate who has the drive, passion and community backing to succeed,” Fein said.

“We had a few candidates come forward, seeking to become the independent candidate, but Nomi was the clear winner”.

Recent polling commissioned by Climate 200, the funding vehicle that backed the successful independents in the federal election, found that similar candidates could win states seats, including Caulfield.

A spokesperson for Climate 200 told The Age the funding body was yet to make a decision about whether to back the Voices for Caulfield candidate but confirmed the group had contacted with Climate 200.

More to come.

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