Florida mayor's anti-Indian remarks

Did Riviera Beach Mayor say opponent should be sent 'back to the reservation'?Mayoral candidate Tamar Reno's son said he overheard Mayor Thomas Masters make derogatory remarks about Reno's American Indian heritage before the polls closed Tuesday.

Jacob Moore, 23, said Wednesday that he was campaigning for his mother around 6 p.m. on election day when he overheard Masters talking with a group of people outside a polling place at the Tate gymnasium on West 10th Street.

Moore said he heard Masters say "it would be a cold day in hell" before an Indian would be mayor and that he would "send her back to the reservation."

After hearing the remarks, Moore said he called his mother.

On Wednesday, Masters denied making the comments.

"I never said that," Masters said. "She never heard me say that. I have love and respect for Native Americans."

Masters said his great grandmother was Cherokee.

Reno is part American Indian. Her mother was descended from the Omaha Tribe. Her father had Irish heritage.

Reno said Masters called her on Wednesday to ask for her endorsement and apologized for the remarks, saying he was joking.

Mayoral candidate Lonnie Lovett said poll workers with his campaign heard Masters make similar remarks about Indians on election day.Comment:  For a similar controversy, see "Back to the Reservation for U."