The former deputy prime minister is the guest speaker at Earle Page College’s annual political dinner.

But will also officially launch the Labor Party’s bid for a seat on the new Armidale Regional Council.

The move leaves long-time Labor member Herman Beyersdorf unaligned to an official party group.

Undeterred, Dr Beyersdorf said he would stand regardless.

“Unless I'm struck down by lightning or hit by a bus, I will be standing,” Dr Beyersdorf said.

The Greens will also finalise their group this week.

Former councillor Dorothy Robinson will almost certainly be endorsed as number one in the group, relegating Peter O’Donohue to number two.

Former Armidale Dumaresq councillors Margaret O’Connor, Jenny Bailey, and Chris Halligan are also expected to stand, though none have officially confirmed their intention.

That leaves Rob Richardson and Laurie Bishop as the only members of the old guard who have confirmed they will not launch a campaign.

The Liberal Party’s decision to scrap its group has cleared the way for Guyra’s Aileen MacDonald to stand as an independent.

Party rules prohibit members from running independently if the party endorses a candidate.   

The New England Futures Group is yet to bed down how many candidates are standing on its ticket.

At last count, only David Levingston and Alison Steward were confirmed.

And Regional Australia Bank chief executive Kevin Dupe is also on the fence.

John Galletly, Jack Rapley, Diane Gray, Colin Gadd, Les Davis, Andrew Murat, Maria Hitchock, Simon Murray, Gordon Cope, Libby Martin, Dale Curtis and Jim Maher are all confirmed.

Nominations officially open in three weeks on Monday, July 31.