NJ GOP lawmaker quit over wife's Carl Lewis email

BY ANGELA DELLI SANTI; ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 08/22/11 2:12 pm | Updated: 08/22/11 4:02 pm


A freshman Republican lawmaker resigned because his wife sent "an offensive and racist" email to the Democratic state Senate campaign of nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, a GOP official acknowledged Monday.


Pat Delany stepped down from the state Assembly this month and said he wouldn't seek a full term in November because of his wife's missive to Lewis' campaign, Burlington County Republican Chairman Bill Layton said. Delany originally cited an unspecified family issue as the reason for his abrupt resignation.
Delany and his wife, Jennifer Delany, are white. Lewis, a political novice who's among the greatest athletes of all time, is black.
Jennifer Delany's email to Lewis' campaign said, in part, "Imagine having dark skin and name recognition and the nerve to think that equaled knowing something about politics."
Layton said Pat Delany decided to leave office to shield his three children from "a hurtful and embarrassing public spectacle involving their mother."
"Former Assemblyman Pat Delany's wife inexplicably sent an offensive and racist email in response to a routine email from Carl Lewis' campaign; her actions were inexcusable," Layton said.


Delany said in a statement that he and his wife don't share the same racial views. He said he was sorry.
"On behalf of my family, we sincerely apologize to Mr. Lewis for any pain this caused him," he said.
Neither the Delanys nor Lewis could be reached by telephone for comment Monday.
Lewis is running for state Senate in New Jersey's 8th Legislative District. Delany was part of the opposing GOP Assembly slate in the district.


Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/22/1791567/nj-gop-lawmaker-quit-over-wifes.html#ixzz1VoTBxH4j