Martins Under Fire For MS-13 Mailer

Jack Martins, the Republican candidate for Nassau County executive, has come under fire this week for a campaign mailer that a statewide Republican committee sent out for his candidacy. The mailer features heavily tattooed MS-13 gang members and claims his opponent, Democrat Laura Curran, would "roll out the welcome mat for violent gangs like MS-13."

The mailer, which is simply a two-sided piece of paper, received instant criticism from other politicians and from residents of the county, calling it racist and fear mongering. The mailer claims that Curran wants to "make Nassau County a sanctuary county for illegal immigrants and protect those convicted of violent crimes from deportation." She says that's a lie.

"Jack Martins is resorting to lying, race-baiting, and fear-mongering because he's desperately trying to distract from his political lifetime in Nassau’s culture of corruption," Curran said in a statement. "As Jack very well knows, I’ve said from the beginning of this race that Nassau County should not be a sanctuary county, and our police officers must be able to work in partnership with our state and federal partners to keep our communities safe."

Martins defended the mailer, saying on a radio show that he approved of the message.

"We are in a public safety crisis," Martins said in a later statement. "Nassau County families do not feel safe. This is a time to lead, not a time to put political correctness above public safety. The role of Nassau County executive is not ‘chief diplomat’ as Laura Curran likes to say, particularly when it comes to fighting violent gangs who are killing our children."

The mailer itself is a mischaracterization of sanctuary cities. The policy sanctuary cities and counties follow is to not deport non-documented residents for small infractions. Violent criminals, however, are prosecuted by law.

What do you think? Is the mailer racist? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: Laura Curran Campaign