A pregnant Oshawa councillor says she has been the target of sexist cyber-bullying, after an image comparing her to a graphic anti-smoking photo was posted on Facebook.

The image, posted Wednesday on two separate Facebook groups, mocks Amy England, a councillor who famously underwent a reality television show makeover while campaigning in 2010.

“Has anyone else see (sic) these before and after pics of Councillor England?” wrote Facebook user George Pappas in one of the groups.

The “before” photo is a Health Canada warning image posted on cigarette packs.

It shows a young woman with rotting teeth, a wrinkled forehead and cataracts. The “after” photo shows a smiling England in makeup with a chic haircut.

“It’s completely disturbing on so many levels,” said England. “As a woman in politics, these kinds of attacks have been constant since I have been in office.”

England, who is seven months pregnant, said that when she announced plans to bring her baby to work to breastfeed, she received emails telling her to “shut her legs” and “focus on her job.”

On the Facebook page where Pappas posted the photo, another user offered to send anyone who is interested “candid photos of England, totally shot on holiday.”

Another user wrote, “Best with the pink shag on top,” a reference to England dyeing her hair pink last year in honour of her mother, who died of breast cancer. Pappas replied, “But does the carpet match the drapes?”

When reached by the Star, Pappas denied that the image was sexist, calling it a “political parody, nothing more.” He said it mocks not only her makeover but also her breaking of campaign promises.

“Had it been published in a political magazine, in a newspaper in the political section, I don’t think that anyone would be calling me to speak about it,” he said.

Pappas suggested England was attempting to shut down political opposition by complaining about the photo. He also said “City of Oshawa representatives” called and emailed members of the Facebook group Thursday.

“Now, I’m being targeted,” said Pappas. “Now it’s a big problem, all of a sudden, to speak out or publish something that doesn’t shed a positive light on the current administration.”

But Councillor Roger Bouma suggested Pappas was becoming paranoid. Bouma sent Pappas a message and called another member of the Facebook group Thursday to try to get his number for a Star reporter.

Bouma wrote on the Facebook page: “This post is nasty and personal and does nothing to make our city better. Have we run out of issues to debate? Please consider removing this.”

England faced an audit in 2011 after getting a makeover on the Cosmo TV show Rags to Red Carpet while on the campaign trail. A former candidate alleged that her laser eye surgery, designer wardrobe and tooth veneers added up to unclaimed election expenses.

She was eventually cleared. England said she has no regrets about getting a makeover and does not deserve to be attacked for it.

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“I deserve to be treated no differently than any . . . man that bought a new suit and got a new haircut while running for office,” she said.

The incident is only the latest flare-up between residents and councillors in Oshawa. On Sept. 3, a council meeting erupted in violence when vocal residents scuffled with security guards, and plainclothes officers moved in to arrest them.

Daniel Hammond, one of two men charged with assault that night, also commented on the England photo. He acknowledged the photo was “nasty,” but said furious residents had been pushed to the brink by council.

“If we’re going to look at the lack of civility, let’s look at it on all sides,” said Hammond. “Never in my life have I had my physical well-being more threatened than I have by the council and the police of Oshawa.”

Hammond denies assaulting anyone and plans to fight the charge in court.

Pappas posted the photo on a Facebook group called “ Improving Oshawa and Durham Region One Idea at a Time!!! ” The image was also posted in a group called “ Outing Oshawa Regional and City Councils ,” but it has since been removed.

Debbie Grills, founder of the “Improving Oshawa” group and an unsuccessful candidate in the last election, said she and other residents were outraged by council decisions that point to a lack of transparency — especially firing the city’s auditor-general.

She refused to remove the photo from her group Thursday, stating she is “not a babysitter.”

“It’s not that I ever condone bullying,” she told the Star. “But these are community members who are so frustrated with being ignored. This is all geared by frustration — I can’t drive that home enough.”

Correction - September 27, 2013: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Roger Bouma's surname.

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