In a statement sent Sunday evening, Bellamy, a first-year councilor, said he is sorry for having sent those tweets.

“I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate things I posted to social media many years ago,” the statement said. “I’m learning to be a better man, community leader, educator, public servant and overall person. Since then, I’ve worked every day to become a better version of myself.”

“There are issues that need to be brought to light and dealt with. Equality in areas such as gender, sexual orientation and race need to be discussed,” he said. “I’ve convened some of those conversations, [but] that does not mean that I’m exempt from any of them, far from it.”

According to a biography on the city’s website, Bellamy, who is originally from Atlanta, moved to Charlottesville in 2009. After failing to be elected to the council in 2013, losing by just five votes, he was the top vote-getter in last year’s election.

In addition to serving on the City Council, he is an appointed member of the Virginia Board of Education and a computer science teacher at Albemarle High School.