Democrat David Eldridge Struggles to Explain 1992 Call to Keep “the Blacks, the Spanish, and White Trash” Out of Shelton.

As a Shelton police officer in 1992, David Eldridge urged the town’s Board of Alderman to find ways to keep “the blacks, the Spanish and white trash” out of town. Eldridge, now retired from the force, is the Democratic candidate for mayor of Shelton and is scrambling to rewrite his racist rant.

An April 22, 1992, Bridgeport Post article quoting Eldridge has been making its way around Shelton—and other places—causing Eldridge to claim on his campaign’s Facebook page that he was addressing concerns about gang members moving to the Naugatuck Valley town. Eldridge’s screed was ugly and clear. Shelton was reserved for white’s only—and only certain whites. He was fully vested with police powers when he dug into a deep well of bile and spewed it at a public meeting.

Eldridge wrote in his Facebook post that he was sorry and “should have been more sensitive as to how I discussed this matter.” He pledges to embrace diversity. Democratic leaders will strain all credulity to adopt Eldridge’s polishing of his racist plea as an adult with a badge, a gun, and the far reaching powers of a police officer.