Seth Dickerson

sdickerson@gannett.com

Louisiana House of Representatives candidate Robbie Gatti accused his opponents of turning a "good night at church" into "negative political mud" after a political website posted a photo of him in blackface.

Monday morning, The Hayride posted a photo of District 8 candidate Gatti, a physical therapist and ordained minister who is campaigning to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson. He was dressed as professional golfer Tiger Woods, with his face painted black.

"I'm sad that my opponents have taken a good night at church and turned it into negative, political mud, but I'm confident the voters of Bossier will not fall for their desperate attacks," he said.

Gatti, a military officer and the brother of State Sen. Ryan Gatti, explained in a statement to The Times that the photo was taken 15 years ago during a fall festival at his church and that all the volunteers were told to dress as famous people.

"Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity, as a world champion, and that was who I was dressed as," he said. "Shortly after this event, I was ordained in this church. As a medical professional, ordained minister and military officer, I live my life seeing only character and I stand by that."

Gatti is facing fellow Republicans Raymond Crews, Patrick Harrington and Micheal "Duke" Lowrie for the state house seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, who won his U.S. House seat in November. According to the Hayride, the photo came from a source that said Gatti was with fellow members of Gatti's First Baptist Church in Bossier City.

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At least one other candidate in the race has also met with negative public comments during the race for the House seat. Shortly after announcing, Lowrie was questioned about his 2015 post on Facebook calling for a boycott of U.S. businesses owned by followers of Islam as well as businesses that employ followers of Islam. Lowrie said he stands behind the post.