State Rep Candidate Snafu Over 'Misleading' Photo

A Wakefield Republican's campaign for the state representative seat representing Melrose and four Wakefield precincts hit a speed bump this week, when it was revealed his campaign sent out a photograph that purported to show the candidate speaking at rally for gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker — something that in fact did not happen.

The campaign staff of Eric Estevez e-mailed a photo to press outlets showing Estevez standing at the podium set up in front of the State House on Thursday, May 20 for Baker's rally. Two copies of the photograph were also posted to the Estevez campaign's Facebook page with the caption, "Addressing supporters at the Baker/Tisei Campaign's 'Had Enough?' tour at the Massachusetts State House."

Estevez admitted to the Melrose Free Press, who first reported about the incident on Monday, that the photo was "misleading" because he did not speak at the Baker rally. He told the paper that he would have it removed and issue a retraction. As of Tuesday afternoon, a retraction was not posted on Estevez's Facebook page or his campaign website.

As of Tuesday morning, two copies of the photo with the same caption were still displayed on Estevez' campaign Facebook page in the "Wall Photos" album.

When contacted by e-mail about the photos still displayed on the Facebook page and asked if he would publish a formal retraction either on his campaign website or on his Facebook page, Estevez told Melrose Patch in an e-mail Tuesday afternoon, "The photo was removed from the links below. I also spoke to the intern who sent the photo out and made the rookie mistake."

Around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the photos were finally removed from the Facebook page.