Candidates for public office can expect criticism and blowback. But School Committee candidate Dante Comparetto said he received an ugly, racist note that no one should find in his mailbox.

"You (N-word) loving JUNKIE!" You are about to lose BIG TIME!" reads the anonymous note, which he said he found Friday afternoon.

Comparetto called police, who filed a report. He said he's also received harassing phone calls and social media posts after the blog Turtleboy Sports wrote a take-down piece last week about his past history of drug abuse.

"It's frustrating," Comparetto said Monday. "I'd like to be able to say it doesn't faze me and I'm moving on. But the whole junkie thing gets to me. I've spent decades trying to get clean and I've been sober five years and my past keeps coming back to bite me."

Comparetto, the only challenger in a seven-way race for six School Committee seats, said he found the note in the mailbox affixed next to the door on the porch of his home on Alden Street. It was just a single sheet of folded paper without an envelope. He said he's also received 10 to 15 calls from people breathing into the phone and three disparaging Facebook messages.

Appearance of the note followed social media back-and-forth between Comparetto and Turtleboy Sports. After Comparetto wrote on Facebook that the anonymous blog makes "disgusting personal attacks on people based on lies that he makes up," the blog launched a disgusting personal attack May 16 on Comparetto, calling him a "racist junkie" who "could relapse any minute" and is "such a scumbag" that he doesn't have a license and is forced to campaign on his bicycle.

In reality, Comparetto has been drug-free for five years and runs a juice bar, Pure Juz, on Highland Street. He's due to be married in August and does indeed possess both a car and a valid driver's license. The candidate has been open about his troubled past and said it's inspired him to become a community organizer. He helped create Stand Up for Kids to aid homeless and at-risk youth and was co-chair of the citywide Parent Planning Advisory Council.

"It's unfortunate we have to be focusing on this stuff," said Comparetto, 34, who has received much support from local progressives. "This is typical behavior of Turtleboy followers. But we shouldn't be expecting this kind of behavior from people in Worcester." Comparetto has also been critical of City Councilor Michael Gaffney for supporting and sponsoring the controversial anonymous blog, which is managed by Aidan Kearney.



After Comparetto posted the racist note on his Facebook page, Turtleboy responded with another blog post accusing Comparetto of sending the note to himself. The blog claimed it would be difficult to target Comparetto's home because his address isn't publicly listed anywhere, but it's actually clearly posted on two different places on the city of Worcester's website.

When I asked Comparetto about the accusation, he called it ridiculous and questioned why he would do such a thing. He kicks off his campaign Tuesday night and said he's eager to focus on the issues.

I noted that some allegedly racist incidents have turned out to be hoaxes perpetuated by people seeking attention.

"I don't want this kind of attention," he said. "This totally distracts from my campaign. I certainly don't want to be talking about my past or my background ... I see nothing good from making this story up." He said the N-word accusation may be in reference to his fiancee, who is part Ethiopian, although she appears to look Caucasian on his Facebook page.

Worcester Police Sgt. Sean Murtha said a report has been filed and police have no evidence that Comparetto composed the note himself. He said the note isn't considered a threat, and a charge of criminal harassment can only be lodged if three separate similar incidents are the work of the same person. He confirmed that it's a federal crime to place something in someone's mailbox without a stamp, but noted that the note is anonymous. He said detectives have been alerted but aren't investigating, and that Comparetto was urged to keep police informed if he receives more hate mail.

"If there's no threat it's actually not a crime," Sgt. Murtha said. "If you're running for public office you're going to get some criticism. But clearly, it's still disturbing."

Comparetto agreed.

"Yes, it's terrible, but I'm going to overcome this negativity," he said. "I've overcome poverty and drugs. I've been sober for five years and I'm about to get married. There's no way Turtleboy is going to get me down."