Hilton Head woman running for mayor explains 'admiring' Hitler comments: 'I'm not a Nazi' [View all]

Last edited Sat Sep 1, 2018, 09:31 AM - Edit history (1)

A Hilton Head Island mayoral candidate whose remarks about Adolf Hitler sparked controversy this week explained her statements Friday and said her goal is to bring attention to native islanders’ concerns.

Rochelle Williams, herself a native islander and two-time mayoral candidate, was labeled a “Hitler admirer” in a Post and Courier story, and “pro-Nazi” in a subsequent tweet by a Washington Post columnist, after she told the Charleston newspaper she admired Hitler’s ability to wield power, and control and unite people.

She apologized for her remarks, which came around the time of an Aug. 28 candidate forum at Indigo Run that featured six other contenders, including “Holocaust revisionist” Michael Santomauro. His candidacy has attracted media attention and added a controversial wrinkle to what might otherwise have been an ordinary race.

If not for Santomauro, it’s unlikely that the Holocaust would have found its way into a South Carolina mayoral election. While Santomauro has a history of making explosive remarks regarding the Holocaust, Williams does not.

Read more: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/politics-government/election/article217643185.html