THOUSANDS of Kate Washington’s campaign flyers that were to be distributed across the Port Stephens electorate have been recalled following complaints from a Tea Gardens woman pictured in the brochure and a Great Lakes councillor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Great Lakes deputy mayor Len Roberts contacted Ms Washington, a candidate for the state seat of Port Stephens, after the first batch of flyers promoting her campaign were delivered across Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest last week.
The flyer features photographs of Ms Washington in a variety of settings, including of her with husband and children, each with text underneath.
Mr Roberts said the wording underneath a photo of Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Preschool management committee president Anita Howarth, who was pictured with her baby in the brochure with Ms Washington, was not something the mother of five would say and was “defamatory” to councillors.
“I was amazed to read the comments attributed to [Ms Howarth] in which she states, ‘our community has been let down by our local politicians’,” Mr Roberts said.
Mr Roberts also said Ms Howarth did not give her consent to have the photo used in the flyer.
Ms Washington said the words under the photos were not meant to be quotes from the people in them, but were “general statements” about herself and her campaign.
She added that the reference to “local politicians” was about those who had appeared before ICAC and said she had “verbal authority” from Ms Howarth to have a photo of her and her baby used in her flyer.
“I have had a discussion with Anita who said the decision [to be photographed] was a spur of the moment thing,” Ms Washington said.
“I understand having spoken with her why she is upset with the flyer.
“For her, the way the photo was portrayed
with the text it does look like it has been attributed to her.
“I emailed her with my sincerest apologies if I caused any distress
because of the flyer.”
Ms Howarth was not available for comment when contacted by the
Examiner.
Alocque Welsh, a preschool management committee member and publicity officer, said Ms Howarth was “distressed” about the flyer.
Ms Welsh said that Ms Howarth believed her
image with the text within the flyer was damaging towards the preschool.
“It looks as if we’re upset with the council,” Ms Welsh said.
“As a preschool we’ve got to be completely impartial as we rely on everyone for help.”
