Camden Mayor Chris Patterson, a Liberal who took on Labor's Mr Corrigan at the 2007 election, said that if he decided not to run in 2011, his young family would be the primary reason.

``For sitting MPs at a federal or state level it is very hard on their family a lot of the time,'' said Mr Patterson, a father of four children aged under 10.

``I would love the opportunity to serve the community at a higher level but with it comes a big cost and I'd have to weigh up that cost.''

He rejected rumours he would run for the federal seat of Macarthur, saying Macarthur MP Pat Farmer, also a Liberal, ``enjoys my total support''.

The Liberal Party is seeking candidates for both the state and federal election. A date for the close of nominations for Camden hadn't been set on Monday. Nominations for Macarthur close on Friday. Labor will begin the preselection process next year.

Mr Corrigan said he was confident of winning again. ``The people of Camden know that I've been working hard on their behalf,'' he said.

Political analysts have predicted Camden will be one of the toughest battlegrounds at the next election, with Labor holding Camden by 3.9per cent.

Mr Farmer said he would continue to stand. ``If the people of Macarthur can find someone better to do the job, tell me and I'll vote for them,'' he said.