FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 16, 2002)

Attribute to: Joseph Cerrell, president, National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the national organization for Italian Americans based in Washington, D.C., strongly admonishes Maine gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Carter for perpetuating an offensive, ethnic stereotype of Italian Americans through his recent airing of a political ad against his opponent, U.S. Congressman John Baldacci.

NIAF is committed to promoting the best of Italian American culture and heritage. As a result, NIAF is extremely disappointed in Mr. Carter’s ad, which references several negative and inaccurate images of Italian Americans as being connected to organized crime.

The use of such a racial and ethnic stereotype against Congressman Baldacci has no place in a public campaign. I have to seriously question the type of leadership and representation Mr. Carter would provide not only for Italian Americans, but all Mainers.