Greeley city council candidate apologizes for Facebook post he calls poorly worded. Others call it racist.

By Kelly Ragan

A city council candidate took to Facebook to apologize for a post he called poorly worded. Others called Paul Wood’s post racist.

The post in question reads: 

“Paul opinion: If I was the sheriff of any border state, and I found that a local citizen shot and killed an illegal immigrant, who could be carrying COVID or who was threatening his or her life or property, I would probably turn a blind eye. Just saying.” 

In an interview with the NoCo Optimist, Wood said he had a habit of letting all his feelings out on Facebook and he realizes now he should be more diplomatic.

His goal, he said, was to bring attention to the issue — border security — and get people talking about it. 

“Regarding the border, I did not intend to pick out any race or person,” he said. “I have friends down on the border who talk about being robbed all the time, and that the police and border control can’t do anything about it.” 

When asked if he condoned killing undocumented immigrants for carrying COVID-19, he said no. 

“I obviously wouldn’t turn a blind eye — that was a way to get a conversation stirred up, but then I find I alienate myself and the conversation doesn’t happen,” Wood said. 

The NoCo Optimist asked Wood if he’d received any push back for the post. 

Wood said one person confronted him about the Facebook post at The Greeley Mayoral & City Council Candidate Forum Wednesday night, hosted by the League of Women Voters Greeley-Weld County and the city. 

The NoCo Optimist wasn’t present for the conversation which took place after the event itself.

“I guess I felt like the lady who talked to me last night was just attacking me on the basis that she assumed I was racist,” Wood said. “I’m about as far from racist as you can get.” 

Several others, including sitting city councilmember Tommy Butler, took to social media to criticize the post. 

“As a nation, we’ve started to allow rhetoric like this to enter our political discourse, and I’ve had enough of it,” Butler wrote. “This man is running for City Council in Greeley right now. He should drop out of the race, apologize, and walk away from politics. This post is flat-out racist, endorses violence against undocumented people, and it sure as Hell has no place in the community I love.” 

Wood admitted he was naive to how people might be hurt by the things he said. 

“I certainly didn’t intent to hurt anyone’s feelings,” Wood said. 

City councilmember Kristin Zasada got pushback for Facebook posts referencing “black on black crime” in 2020, as some groups, including the Latino Coalition of Weld County, and other city officials called for her resignation. While she didn’t resign, she also is not seeking re-election this year. 

Wood said he wants to be known for who he really is, a Greeley water employee of 42 years who loves Greeley. 

“I certainly apologize for anything I did,” Wood said. 

Wood is running for the at-large seat against Brett Payton and Lavonna Longwell.