Neo-Nazi running for seat on Riverside County water board

A well-known white supremacist is running a discreet campaign to try to unseat an incumbent in November on the board of a Riverside County water district.

Jeff Hall hasn’t posted any signs, didn’t show up to a candidate forum and lists no occupation on the November ballot.

But as California director of the National Socialist Movement -- the nation’s largest neo-Nazi group -- Hall has helped lead demonstrations in Riverside and Los Angeles where white supremacists waved swastika flags, chanted “white power” and gave stiff-armed Nazi salutes surrounded by hundreds of counterprotesters.

Hall’s bid for a seat on the board of directors of the Western Municipal Water District has drawn outcry from community groups dismayed that a neo-Nazi who has held racist rallies at a day laborer center and a synagogue wants to administer their water -- or at least garner publicity in the quest to do so.

“It looks like he’s hoping to get a certain percentage of the vote as an anonymous anti-incumbent and then claim that some percentage of the electorate support the Nazis,” said Kevin Akin, a member of Temple Beth El in Riverside, where Hall and other neo-Nazis have demonstrated. “He apparently intended to do nothing, just to be a stealth candidate.”

Not so, said Hall, a 31-year-old plumber who in a phone interview called for water conservation and affirmed his belief that all non-whites should be deported.

“I want a white nation,” he said. “I don't hide what I am, and I don't water that down.”

Hall has been campaigning by handing out business cards, he said, but turned down an invitation to a candidate forum because it was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and a Latino community group.

He is not the only known white supremacist running for office in Southern California this fall. Dan Schruender, a member of the Aryan Nations known for distributing racist fliers in Rialto, is seeking a seat on that city’s school board.

-- Tony Barboza

Comments

[Alfred Franklin Mayberry]

"A well-known white supremacist is running a discreet campaign to try to unseat an incumbent in November on the board of a Riverside County water district."

“I don't hide what I am, and I don't water that down.”

Hah. Well played, Mr Hall.

[John De Salvio]

Neo-nazis are too stupid to realize they come from a variety of colors in their ancestry. The only reason they are white is because of the angle of the earth to the sun in the part of the world where they live.

[phoenixandrew]

There should be a law forbidding white supremacists from running for public office. For the same reason, followers of Louis Farrakhan shouldn't be permitted to run for office either. Both groups deserve each other.

[Sabastian]

What a joke, California is becoming a laughing stock to the world.

[Concerned citizen]

Wow is this for real? I work for an engineering firm in Southern California and we do a lot of work for water resource agencies locally. A lot of the projects require that we meed Disadvantage Business (DBE) goals to ensure that we are providing a fair share to qualified minority, women or veteran owned businesses. I wonder if Hall will be upholding these guidelines for diversity? I wonder if he will be influencing against these goals. I am a firm believer in the US and all that we stand for including tolerance for people like Hall. However I highly doubt that someone with public advocation of Nazism could serve our diverse constituents in a fair and just manner.

[Dave T]

In this day and age and in the multi-racial society that is Southern Cal. This PIG has some nerve.

Since when are whites native to North America? He needs to get deported back to where he is originally a native.

[Ray]

If the guy wants to be a Nazi so bad, send him back to Germany.
We don't need these racist's around our FREE Country!

[EmeryAnnHarris]

Perhaps he misunderstood the meaning of the phrase Water Board and got unduly excited?

[canjac canjar]

Only in California- Los Angeles to be more precise. It seems that every self-serving idiot has proliferated in that area since I can remember when.

[USA Patriot]

This is fantastic news finally we can feel confident when casting a vote that its not for the same old crap of democrats and republicans! I wish the NSM would run for office in every City. Our family will be voting. A vote for the NSM is a vote for America and White Rights. USA Patriot

[Kate]

*SNARF* Not as though there's a dearth of brain cells here in the IE, but WOW. I never thought I'd see the day.

[rickinla]

a fringe group trying to seek publicity and a small level of legitimacy. If he really only wanted to live amongst "white" people, whatever that means, he could easily move to a Northern European nation, but he and others like him won't move because that is just an excuse, a justification for their real reason they are supremacist: malcontent and maladjusted individuals looking for a reason to hate and blame someone for their unhappiness. Guess what Mr Hall and all supremacists, you need to do some soul searching, stop lying to yourselves, and look in that mirror and see a sad and angry person looking to blame someone, because that makes it easier to live with your failures. Its really nice to blame someone else for your mistakes, but it is only an illusion. by the way, hispanics are here to stay, our ancestors Amerindians originated in this continent, we belong here more than anyone else, but go ahead, you can blame us for whatever faults you have, if you chose to live in a fantasy world, its your dime.

[Howard the Duck]

You got to be kidding me! A neo Nazi running for a community seat of responsibility? How can he do that? He is anti society? Well, guess it takes all kinds! Peace, Everyone! Be good to one another!

[LAnative]

LOL deport this white trash!!! ASAP.

[Angela Grbic]

How disgusting!
A white supremacist to be on the board of Supervisors?
Now , if this person attemps against the security of the County, why is he allowed to run for any office?
He IS a threat to National Security
Anyone?

[Collis Huntington]

Most of the world now understands that segregating people by their race, religion or ethnicity is inhumane and unsustainable. We have only to look at Apartheid South Africa or Zionist Israel to see the disastrous results of racism.

[pmg]

What's he gonna do? Purify the water?

[lwps]

An honest politician?

[Tvegas]

No more disgusting than a Republican or Democrat...at least you know what scum you are dealing with.

[Scott Piotrowski]

While I abhor the idea of a white supremacist gaining any position of "power" at any level in the United States, I have to say, some of the previous comments on this topic are bordering on as ludicrous as the idea that Mr. Hall may garner enough votes to get elected.

For example, "phoenixandrew" evidently has failed to read much of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. And "Dave T," calling Mr. Hall a "PIG" is definitely no better than the bigotry that comes from the white supremacists. "canjac canjar" evidently needs a geography lesson. I don't believe we have much debate which side of bigotry "USA Patriot" falls on. And "Angela Grbic," how are we certain that Mr. Hall "IS a threat to National Security" based solely on his political and bigoted beliefs?

[steven]

That IS fantastic news @USA Patriot, I'm so happy you've decided to vote for a sure loser. People like you were diluting the Republican base... the Democrats were never going to listen to you, but maybe now the Republicans can ignore you too. This blonde-haired, blue-eyed, 15th generation American would love seeing Nazi-scum put back in their place... hopefully in a jail cell, but I'll settle for self-imposed public humiliation.

[All Hallows Eve]

Well, if all of you yahoos who have nothing better to say than "California is becoming the laughing stock of the U.S." would MOVE AWAY, things would begin to look up!

Agree with Dan Schruender or not, at least he's HONEST about his racial stance! How many racists are CURRENTLY in office who haven't the guts to say who they really are, and fail to mention how they're only looking out for their own???

You couldn't handle the truth.

[PadrePete]

You're absolutely right on phoenixandrew and Dave T, "There should be a law forbidding..." anyone who supports, or is a member of the following communist/socialist organizations who work to destroy Amerika and our freedoms. The nerve of such 'pigs':

"...The Progressive Party; Democratic Socialists of America (DSA); Progressives for Obama; Progressive Democrats of America; Weather Underground; Chicago DSA; Communist Party; Black Radical Congress; Black Panthers; Committees of Correspondence; Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN); New Party; Chicago New Party; Mexican American Equality Commission; Communist Party USA; Boston DSA; National Lawyers Guild; Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism;, The Chicago Peace Council; US Peace Council, Chicago Young Communist League; Marxists of Chicago Democratic Socialists of America; Young Democratic Socialists; DSA's Anti Racism and Latino Commissions; Young Communist League USA; National Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression; Women's Strike for Peace and Council, Chicago Peace Council; Illinois Public Action; World Federation of Democratic Youth; USAction; United Power for Action and Justice; Students for a Democratic Society; Venceremos Brigades; Movement for a Democratic Society; Students for a Democratic Society; League of Revolutionaries for a New America; Afro Latino Network; Du Bois Network; NAACP; Women of Color Resource Center; Feminists for Peace and Barack Obama; Religion and Socialism Commission; Crossroads Fund; Ad Hoc Committee on Chicago Police Torture; Feminist Response in Disability Activism; Female Storytellers Igniting Revolution to End Violence; Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (Formerly Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation); Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights and Jobs with Justice; Chicago Communist Party; Rabbis for Obama; Black Advisory Council; Institute for Policy Studies; American Peace Mobilization; Cesar Chavez National Holiday; Green For All; Ella J. Baker Human Rights Center; Socialist Scholars Conference; TransAfrica; POWER-People Organized to Win Employment Rights; Congressional Progressive Caucus; Apollo Alliance (the organization that drafted the Stimulus Plan, the Healthcare Bill and the House Energy Bill); Woods Fund for Chicago; Chicago City Council; Congressional Black Caucus; National Preparatory Committee for the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students; Sierra Club; League of Conservation Voters; Independent Voters of Illinois; Columbia University; African-American Human Rights Foundation; AFSCME; Illinois ACLU; Black Panthers; Chuck Collins-Demos; Illinois Project Vote; Friends of the People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo, a.k.a. "The Mob"....

Maybe THAT'S the problem... all you socialist enemies of the United States of Amerika are afraid that such "neo-Nazi" "white supremacist(s)" gaining offices might muck up your commie red plans to turn Amerika into one giant "gay" starving, poverty ridden gulag!

[Joe]

Let the voters decide!

[Devils Advocate]

To "USA Patriot". How is a Nazi a patriot? If you graduated high school, "witch I doubt"; you should remember that Nazis murdered thousands of our WHITE soldiers in WWII.

That would be like some idiot calling a Neo Al-Qaida member a REAL patriot fifty years from now.