NC GOP official condemns Republican mayoral candidate over distasteful Facebook comment on race

The chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party condemned a Republican Charlotte mayoral candidate on Tuesday after the candidate marketed herself on Facebook as "smart," "white," and "traditional."

Robin Hayes, chairman of the North Carolina GOP, issued a statement responding to the verbiage posted on mayoral candidate's Kimberley Leigh Barnette's since-deleted Facebook page, calling the mayoral candidate's description of herself "offensive."

Barnette's Facebook post and background

According to a screenshot of Barnette's Facebook, the mayoral candidate's page read "Vote for me!"

Her bio also described her as "REPUBLICAN & SMART, WHITE, TRADITIONAL."

After much criticism on social media, Barnette's page was deleted.

Barnette emailed QNotes on Monday to clarify the controversy surrounding her Facebook page:

I’m not prejudice [sic]. I do not judge other people. Other people judge me. What is the difference? I say I’m white. Others describe themselves as example transgenders. Are they labeling themselves? I’m also a divorced mother of two adult children. I accept others as who they are. I have traditional conservative views when it comes to family and friendships.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Barnette, a former Mecklenberg County magistrate, is a "distant long-shot" behind the two other Republican mayoral candidates — Gary Dunn and Kenny Smith — in the GOP primary slated on Sept. 12.

GOP response

In a statement provided to WBTV, Hayes said, "This contest will not be decided based on the skin color [of] the candidates. Any suggestion that a candidate is more or less qualified for political office based on their skin color alone, is offensive to North Carolina Republicans and we condemn it."

Just in: @NCGOP Chairman criticizes CLT mayoral candidate Kimberley Paige Barnette for saying she's "white" as reason to vote for her #ncpol pic.twitter.com/lprWm57ezD

— Nick Ochsner (@NickOchsnerWBTV) September 5, 2017