A District 87 school board candidate has distanced himself from another candidate who dropped out of the race after a history of offensive social media posts surfaced.
Fitzgerald Samedy issued a statement to WGLT on Wednesday saying he does not support Jon Reed’s social media activity that included a litany of racist and misogynist content he either produced or shared.
“As a Haitian American and a first-generation born in this country, I too am very offended and disgusted,” Samedy said.
Reed’s and Samedy’s names jointly appeared on yard signs that asked voters to “Elect Two Good Men.”
“I had an inexcusable lack of awareness of who the real Jon Reed was,” Samedy said. “That was my fault and it is something I am embarrassed about."
Samedy also has served as a Republican precinct committeeman. He has never served in elected office.
Samedy is one of four candidates seeking to fill four open seats on the District 87 school board in the April 6 election. The other candidates are incumbents Brigette Beasley Gibson, Elizabeth Fox Anvick and Chuck Irwin.
Reed initially suspended his campaign, then formally withdrew from the race on Monday. Early voting has already started, so any votes Reed receives will be negated.
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