CAPE CORAL, Fla., - A Cape Coral City Council candidate claims he was a victim of a hate crime after the KKK allegedly left a threatening flyer on his front doorstep demanding he drop out of the race.
"I actually dropped it, thinking I don't want to touch it. I don't want anything to do with it," said James Schneider, who's running for the District 5 seat.
Schneider says he got the note over the weekend.
It reads, "We know where you live (expletive). We are going to win. Quit now." It goes on to say, "When you girls least expect it, we will be here for a nice visit. Like smores?
"Never have I ever been treated like this. Ever," Schneider said.
Cape Coral Police Department says it's actively investigating.
The flyer lists a potential author by the name of Paul Lamonica, a member of the KKK with a Tennessee address and phone number.
4 In Your Corner called Lamonica Wednesday. Lamonica didn't answer any of our questions.
A hate map on the Southern Poverty Law Center website shows there is an operating KKK group in Cape Coral.
"If it is in my town or county, I worry about my own safety," Schneider said.
Schneider, who's openly gay says while the threats warn him not to stay in the race, he says he doesn't plan on dropping out.
"If they have a problem with that, then I am not their candidate," Schneider said.
Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki called the note "deplorable", saying Cape PD is working hard to get to the bottom of it.
Cape PD says it hasn't seen significant incidents of organized hate groups in the Cape.
