Liberal candidate for Ward 2 Jo Bromilow has made headlines on Twitter and Facebook this week for claiming Blue Mountains council did not care about a local couple - when the couple were from a stock photo from a British photo agency.
The photo used in the post was sighted on Alamy, a British privately owned stock photography agency after a search for 'Senior Couple Going Through Finances Looking Worried'.
The message and accompanying image were posted on her Facebook campaign page, "Jo Bromilow Liberal Candidate for Ward 2 Blue Mountains", on November 2. It was part of her push to encourage housing for empty nesters in the area.
In the comment section of the Facebook post Ms Bromilow was asked: "Is this a local couple? They look so sad". Ms Bromilow's page replied: "yes there [sic] are".
Deputy mayor and former Liberal candidate for the ward, Chris Van der Kley, claimed Ms Bromilow "tried to hide the truth and then deleted her comments to cover her tracks".
In response to Councillor Van der Kley's allegations, including his comment below, Ms Bromilow said it was all a misunderstanding.
"Seeking to highlight the plight of long-term Ward 2 residents who are struggling to downsize due to council policies, I used a stock photo to illustrate an informative social media post - using it to portray the elderly community in general and the sadness and concern they may be feeling.
"My team and I have met a number of elderly residents who have expressed concerns about the lack of housing options as they try to downsize and their disappointment at having no options other than to move off the Mountains and leave their communities.
"The wording of the response to a question about the post has unfortunately led to a misunderstanding - it was meant to express an agreement with the comment included in the question - and I hope that this does not distract from the important issue that our campaign is seeking to pursue with the council."
Cr Van der Kley is recontesting the seat as an Independent after a fall-out with the Liberal Party over development.
"When Liberal candidate for Ward 2 and Glenbrook resident, Jo Bromilow was asked a direct question from a constituent about whether the photo of a couple on her Facebook post were locals, rather than telling the truth, she chose not to," Cr Van der Kley said.
The local government elections will be held on December 4.
