A Princeton man running for council is claiming a smear campaign is trying to ruin his chances, after several posts on Facebook have accused him of posting racially insensitive commentary.

Luigi Gino Del-Ciotto is one of 16 people vying for a spot on the four-person Princeton town council. He is a long-time community member that has an established history of commemorating his thoughts online.

In the last few weeks several screenshots of things he has written online have been shared on Facebook in Princeton. These screenshots have developed an ongoing commentary in town about Del-Ciotto and his suitability for a seat on council.

The accusations were reportedly posted on Facebook to show that Del-Ciotto is racist towards the First Nation community in Canada, but he claims their posts are a personal attack and simply a smear campaign.

害羞草研究所淭he people that started this are working together to smear me. I do not believe this is the right forum to be grinding your axes. People spreading assumptions and rumours such as this endanger people,害羞草研究所� said Del-Ciotto.

害羞草研究所淚 have absolutely zero, zero dislike towards our First Nation people. My issues are with how things work. How our federal government handles things.害羞草研究所�

In fact, Del-Ciotto first and foremost wants the community to know that his girlfriend and hopefully 害羞草研究所渟oon-to-be害羞草研究所� wife is First Nations, his business partner is Metis and he has numerous family members of Asian descent.

害羞草研究所淚 would stand and die for those people. I have zero racism,害羞草研究所� he said.

Some of the social media commentary shared online included the following statements written by Del-Ciotto.

害羞草研究所淭hey seem to think we will invade them or something if they act like functioning members of society. Cut them off and let mother nature select the strong that figure a way to survive and join the rest of the world or back to their ancient ways.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he inequalities in the laws and the unequal enforcement of laws that apply to everyone must stop in order to end true race separation in this country. This includes all race based legislation. We feel we have grown as a human race and believe that it is unnecessary to coddle any race with special treatment, money or benefits.害羞草研究所�

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Some of the other examples include comments he had made on a group called End Race Base Law, a group he said he had nothing to do with. One in particular was on a post regarding $165 million being spent to bring water to Manitoba害羞草研究所檚 reserves.

害羞草研究所淗ow about we have a war over it,害羞草研究所� he wrote. 害羞草研究所淚 am starting to think this isn害羞草研究所檛 such a bad idea. All 37 million of us against your one million. Instead of having mercy we do it like the Americans did, or worse the Spanish.害羞草研究所�

Many of the example posts are quite damning, and Del-Ciotto agrees that they come across as racist, but insists they are older and taken out of context.

害羞草研究所淭hey do look bad out of context, 100 per cent, they have damaged my reputation,害羞草研究所� asked Del-Ciotto.

害羞草研究所淗ate crime is taking very seriously in Canada. These comments have been in the public domain for years, if I was committing a hate crime don害羞草研究所檛 you think there would be public record that I had been charged with such a crime? I owned my words, I left them up. If I had committed a hate crime I would have been investigated.害羞草研究所�

He said his comments are taken out of context as you cannot see which posts or comments he was replying to, nor can you see that some of his replies were meant as sarcasm.

害羞草研究所淚n that one example [End Race Base Law] I was trying to point out that the person commenting was being ridiculous. I said 37 million against one million natives you would end up with a situation similar to the American or Spanish situation. I thought the suggestion of violence was ludicrous. My response was intended to show the ignorance of someone else.

害羞草研究所淭hey had said some very inflammatory things. You only see my comments, I am the only one who has stood behind my words. Everyone else has removed their comments because they are probably embarrassed with that they said,害羞草研究所� explained Del-Ciotto.

He said what he does believe is that the law needs to be applied equally to all people.

害羞草研究所淚n the end some First Nation people mistook my goal and what I was trying to do. I was definitely accused of being racist,害羞草研究所� said Del-Ciotto.

害羞草研究所淚 do believe that the law needs to be applied equally to all people. I am of the personal belief that the Indian Act and many of the rules and regulations by our federal government in regards to our First Nations are creating race division within our country.害羞草研究所�

At the end of it all, Del-Ciotto said he has regrets.

害羞草研究所淚 regret saying it because I did not realize that social media would turn the way it has turned,害羞草研究所� added Del-Ciotto.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 have the ability to show what the other people were saying as their comments have been deleted and it leaves me in a position where all I can give you is my word.害羞草研究所�

He also welcomes any community members who question his thoughts to

害羞草研究所淚t is really unfortunate politics have gone down to this level,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淨uite frankly I am sad for Princeton that we have to have this American-style type of politics enter our community.害羞草研究所�

To report a typo, email:
carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca.

carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca
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