This is starting to be brought up by several parties, including one of my fellow candidates and a local radio station I’ve also been mentioned on a prominent social media site. I appreciate the opportunity to disclose this and move on.
Yes, I do have a past as an “internet troll.”
I’ve written things that I truly regret. Nasty, cruel, hurtful and hateful things. Things that have gotten me in minor legal peril. I’ve paid dearly for my words. And I’m sorry that I ever wrote those things and I’m ashamed by the number of people whom I’ve hurt.
One of the offensive things that I did was write awful things about our nation’s fine military. I did so out of anger for being forcibly removed from serving in the Army, way back in 1999. There is a television interview that I did on a well-known news network. That interview was done twenty years ago.
I regret what I wrote and said about our military, especially since I served, or at least tried to. If I could take it all back I would, but instead I would like to move forward and serve as Albany’s 76th mayor. That way, I can give back in a positive way.
I would like to point out that that sort of internet activity is in my past. I no longer engage in that way and I take full responsibility for those actions.
If voters were able to look past our 47th president’s felon status, it is my hope that they can look past the awful things that I’ve written so that I can serve you, the people of Albany, in a meaningful and impactful way.
I urge you to look back my past and instead of focusing on that, join me in looking forward to a future that will make a better, brighter Albany.