Full-colour four-page pamphlets reached mailboxes in Sutherland Shire Council's A, B and E wards last week.

They were issued by Liberal councillors Kevin Schreiber, Kent Johns and Melanie Gibbons and bore the Liberal Party logo as well as the slogan "... putting the shire first!''

The three were elected at the start of the term as endorsed Liberal councillors.

They retain that status even though their local government conference voted recently not to endorse candidates at the election on

September 13.

That means the three will be running as independent candidates as will fellow former Liberal councillors David Redmond, Steve Simpson and Magdi Mikhail.

The name of the group of independent candidates Crs Schreiber, Johns and Gibbons who will be standing for election is understood to be Putting the Shire First.

Strict laws govern the use of logos from registered political parties by candidates who are not endorsed officially by those parties.

The Leader was contacted by several recipients of the newsletters who felt the use of the Liberal logo was in breach of those laws.

Cr Schreiber said the pamphlet was intended to tell residents what work he had done over the past council term.

"I was elected as an endorsed Liberal councillor and there's nothing in [the newsletter]) that says vote for me,'' Cr Schreiber said.

"I look at it as material informing the general public of what I've done after four and a half years on council.''

Cr Kent Johns said he had released four newsletters during his term and that this would be the last.

"It is simply a newsletter informing residents of the important issues on the council at the moment,'' he said.

Cr Melanie Gibbons agreed.

"It's not election material,'' she said.

"Election material is something where I'm asking people to vote for me.''

Is it election material or not? Tell us what you think.