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U-46 board candidate apologizes for offensive Facebook post

"It was a youthful indiscretion," said Cody Holt, a candidate for Elgin Area School District U-46 school board facing a slew of criticism for a Facebook post in which he used a derivative of the "N" word casually addressing his best friend, who is black.

Screenshots of Holt's original post from June 12, 2012, have been shared on various Facebook pages - "Elgin Township Democrats" and "School District U-46 Uncensored" - in the last couple of days.

Holt took down his original post Monday. The issue never came up during his candidacy for Elgin City Council in the spring of 2013.

Holt, 23, admits that it was a "stupid" thing to do.

"Hindsight is 20/20," said Holt, of Elgin. "Quite frankly, I think you are going to see this in the future as (younger) candidates run for elected office. We truly are a Facebook and social media generation. Since I have matured, I understand and I know that offensive language has no place. I would say, there's no place for this term in our schools, and it's unfortunate because it was widely used at Larkin High School when I was there. And it's something that we need to address now."

Holt is facing Kai Rush for the 2-year unexpired school board term on April 7. Rush could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Dan Rich, former U-46 school board member and Elgin's public works superintendent, said voters ultimately will decide whether Holt's "racist" comment is acceptable.

"If it's not a big deal, this shouldn't be a problem and he should be able to carry the day in April," said Rich, who was among the first to share a screenshot of Holt's original post on Facebook.

"If a person is unable to exercise better judgment than that in their own personal lives, how do they expect to be a policymaker for a governing body of a district that size?" Rich said. "The person seeking that open seat is responsible for a budget of nearly $400 million, 40,000 students, and (affecting) 250,000 people. It's reprehensible that anyone seeking elected office would think that way or act that way. Maybe it's a lesson for him, and future candidates. Free speech isn't without consequence."

Holt explained the context in which he made the comment while with his friends.

"We were all hanging around and doing what young people do ... talking with our youth folk vernacular among friends, and unfortunately, I made the bad judgment to post it on Facebook," he said. "I do take full responsibility for it. It's something that I know was wrong."

Holt also apologized on Facebook.

"While there is never a valid excuse for offensive behavior, I sincerely apologize to everyone that has been offended by a youthful indiscretion," he wrote, adding, " ... but will not be held hostage to this barrage of convenient and false accusations. Let he among you who has not sinned cast the first stone. I will continue to run my campaign for the U-46 Board of Education with dignity and respect for the office and the community. I hope those who have been offended can forgive me."

Aside from the censure, Holt said he has received an outpouring of support from community members, especially from people younger than 30 years old.

Holt said if there's anything a young person should learn from his experience is to "be careful what you post on social media, even if it is among friends."

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