Plans are in place for Philip Ruddock, the former federal attorney-general, immigration minister and member for Berowra, to run as the Liberal candidate for Hornsby Shire mayor in the upcoming NSW local council elections, party sources say.

Mr Ruddock's candidacy will cap off more than two months of bitter in-fighting within the local party over the now confirmed backdown by the NSW government on the merger of Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai councils.

Steve Russell, the mayor of Hornsby, has been openly and publicly very critical of the proposed backdown due to Hornsby Council losing areas of Epping to Parramatta Council when it recently merged. Hornsby Council has estimated this loss could represent a shortfall of revenues of up to $200 million over 10 years.

"I have had a very difficult time in the last month. I am not flavour of the month with some people in the party due to my position on amalgamation and the loss of Epping to Parramatta," Cr Russell said.