The Puna Neighborhood Watch does not endorse political candidates.
But voters might be led to think otherwise by Facebook posts and even some candidate websites that touted the group’s support.
Rene Siracusa, a board member of the organization, said the endorsements were made by an unaffiliated Facebook group that uses the same name and logo.
“We don’t know who (did it), but it’s totally false,” she said.
Siracusa said the board met this week to discuss the issue, the first meeting it’s had in months because of the Kilauea eruption.
“No one has been endorsed or will be by the Neighborhood Watch,” she said.
Ashley Kierkiewicz, a candidate for County Council District 4, received the unaffiliated group’s endorsement, but said she thought it was legit. She used it in a campaign mailer and on her website, before taking it down.
“I conduct myself with integrity, and I am a trusting person,” Kierkiewicz said. “I feel naive and silly I didn’t investigate this. Who goes around creating fake pages?”
A message to the Facebook group seeking comment wasn’t returned by press time.
The unaffiliated page endorsed other Puna candidates, including Council District 5 candidate Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder, state House District 3 candidate Raina Whiting, and state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, who is unopposed.
Whiting listed the endorsement on her website as of Friday afternoon but didn’t return a phone call requesting comment. Kanealii-Kleinfelder does not include the endorsement on his campaign website.
San Buenaventura, D-Puna, said she also thought the page was connected to the actual Puna Neighborhood Watch.
She said she didn’t use it for her publicity but thinks candidates who did shouln’t be blamed if they didn’t know the difference between the Facebook page and the actual organization.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
