Racist Runs for Mayor
Vincent Bertollini, a key financier of Aryan Nations, is running for mayor in Sandpoint, Idaho, as a write-in candidate. Bertollini first made news about a year ago when he and another wealthy businessman, Carl Story, paid for an Aryan Nations's mass mailing. Delivered to 3,000 households, the mailing contained a six-foot poster and cost approximately $30,000. The pair struck again late last month. The newest mailing of 5,000 pieces included a booklet and a four-foot time line starting with World War III and ending with Armageddon.
Bertollini and Story originally made their money in California's Silicon Valley. They are now running a Christian Identity group called The 11th Hour Messenger out of Sandpoint. They were primary founders of two computer businesses which were later absorbed by larger companies. One of the companies, Silicon Valley Group, started with an investment of $160,000, and is now worth $600 million. Story sold his shares of the company in 1983. They formed The 11th Hour Remnant Messenger in 1990 and moved to Sandpoint in 1995.
Both mailings outline Christian Identity's interpretation of the Bible, including why Jews are Satan's offspring and that people of color are "mud people." Along with the mailings, Bertollini and Story hosted an anti-government conference for America's Promise, another Identity church which is located in Sandpoint.
Bertollini had declared his candidacy for mayor in September, but didn't return the required number of signatures by the deadline. His platform is based around anti-diversity issues. He says he would eliminate Affirmative Action in city government hiring practices and would encourage local businesses to do the same. Bertollini also wants Christian prayer returned to public meetings and public schools.