Over the past 12 months locals have endured a number of elections and byelections, with investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption triggering the resignation of several key seats across the region.

At the last state election in 2011, the Liberal-National Coalition won 69 of 93 seats in the lower house, defeating the 16-year Labor government, which was left with 20 seats.

A lot has changed since then including changes in Liberal, Labor, and Green leadership.

The seats of Newcastle and Charlestown are back with Labor after November's byelection.

Over the past three weeks The Star has profiled all of the candidates running in the seats of Swansea, Cessnock, Wallsend and Lake Macquarie.

This week the candidates vying for the seats of Newcastle and Charlestown are profiled.

Cessnock

Clayton Barr, Labor

Julie Johnson, Christian Democratic Party

Domenic Lopreiato, No Land Tax

Jessica Price-Purnell, The Nationals

Lindy Williams, The Greens

Charlestown

Luke Arms, Independent

Jodie Harrison, Labor

Arjay Martin, Independent

Tania Morvillo, No Land Tax

Jane Oakley, The Greens

Jason Pauling, Liberal

Brian Tucker, Christian Democratic Party

Lake Macquarie

Melissa Cleary, Labor

Daniel Collard, Liberal

Andrew Coroneo, No Land Tax

Kim Gritten, Christian Democratic Party

Greg Piper, Independent

Ivan Macfadyen, The Greens

Susan Strain, Animal Justice Party

Newcastle

Jasmin Addison, No Land Tax

Milton Caine, Christian Democratic Party

Tim Crakanthorp, Labor

Karen Howard, Liberal

Steve O'Brien, Socialist Alliance

Michael Osborne, The Greens

Sam Reich, Australian Cyclists Party

Swansea

Joshua Agland, Animal Justice Party

Yasmin Catley, Labor

Luke Cubis, Christian Democratic Party

Paul Doughty, No Land Tax

Garry Edwards, Independent

Chris Osborne, Independent

Phillipa Parsons, The Greens

Johanna Uidam, Liberal

Wallsend

Damien Cotton, Christian Democratic Party

Tony Di Cosmo, No Land Tax

Hannah Eves, Liberal

Sonia Hornery, Labor

Aleona Swegen, The Greens