Rapid City Council Member Criticized Again

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A Rapid City Council member accused of making racist comments to a black TV reporter last fall is being criticized again, this time for allegedly confronting a black man at a recent debate of mayoral candidates.

Councilman Bill Clayton discounts the latest accusation as a political attack.

Opponents of Clayton are circulating recall petitions in the wake of the incident last August in which he allegedly suggested the TV reporter be deported to Kenya during a telephone interview. Clayton said he was not aware of the reporter's race and publicly apologized for the controversy.

Witnesses tell the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/102AqM2 ) that Clayton had a heated discussion last Thursday with Dennis Edwards, a black man who has been critical of Clayton and has called for him to resign.