Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R-Las Vegas) is drawing criticism from some fellow lawmakers in Carson City, for what some have called racially insentive remarks.
Defending a proposed voter ID law, on Wednesday, Michele Fiore referenced a fellow Assemblyman, Harvey Munford (D-Las Vegas), who is African-American.
"But I can tell you the great respect I have for my peer Mr. Munford for being the first colored man to graduate from his college," Fiore said. "We’re in 2015 and we have a black president, in case anyone didn’t notice. So the color and the race issue; I think it’s time that we put that to rest?"
According to Kyle Roerink of the Las Vegas Sun, Munford seemed unfazed by the remarks.
"I spoke to Assemblyman Munford about these comments yesterday, and he was not upset," Roerink told KNPR's State of Nevada. "What he called it was a giant distraction from a greater conversation. He said he thinks Michele Fiore misspoke about calling him a colored man. Assemblyman Munford thinks she meant to call him a man of color."
This isn't the first time during this legislative session Fiore has drawn controversy.
During an interview with The New York Times on whether students should be able to carry weapons on college campuses, Fiore referred to "hot little girls on campuses" being a deterrent to sexual assault.
She also said during an episode of her radio talk show that cancer was a fungus that could be flushed out with baking soda.
Roerink said despite her comments, he doesn't think Fiore is a racist.
"I've talked to her about race relations before, and she has African-Americans in her family and very close friends," he said. "She has told me that if she has a dinner party, it's like a meeting of the United Nations."
Kyle Roerink, political reporter, Las Vegas Sun
