An Islamic State militant points a knife at the head of a doomed British aid worker. Workers in biohazard gear carry what appears to be a coffin. Protesters hold signs, one of which reads, “Behead those who insult Islam.”

It’s all part of a glossy one-page mailer Republican congressional candidate and Riverside Councilman Steve Adams sent to GOP and independent voters this week to prove he is the best candidate to handle the Islamic State and the Ebola outbreak. The front of the mailer reads: “Ebola & ISIS/Coming Soon to America.”

“Are you scared of what you are seeing on TV and this brochure?” the other side reads. “NOW may be your last chance to stop this insanity! YOU MUST VOTE! Vote for real solutions and proven leadership.”

Adams is running against Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside. Justin Strekal, a Takano campaign spokesman, said the first-term congressman “is running on his record of accomplishments and vision for the future, not some talk-show fantasy.”

“The fact that Steve Adams would attempt to scare our community rather than address the issues just shows how little respect he has for the voters.”

Lou Desmond, an Adams spokesman, said the campaign sent the mailer “because (they are) the number one (and) number two most important issues to Americans, according to recent polling.”

“As to anyone who says the Adams campaign is seeking to create anxiety or fear about ISIS or Ebola, the American people are already anxious and fearful of these issues. We’re reacting to what has been in the news cycle.”

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the mailer “a sign of moral and political bankruptcy when a candidate resorts to fear and hate mongering to attract votes.”

“Steve Adams’ attempt to demonize an entire faith and its over 1.6 billion peaceful followers is reprehensible and must be rejected by fellow Americans. I call on the California GOP to strongly condemn this bigotry.”

Desmond said Adams “thoroughly believes in fighting the small percentage of Muslims who are members of radical Islam. Takano does not.”

The Adams campaign spent almost $20,000 on the mailer, which was sent to just less than 15,000 voters, Desmond said.

Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College, said the flier “looks like a poster for a bad horror movie. It’s too crude and unfocused to have any effect. Most people will throw it away without reading it.”

Adams and Takano are running in the 41st Congressional District, which includes Riverside, Perris, Jurupa Valley and Moreno Valley. Independent political forecasters expect Takano, who won the newly created district in 2012, to prevail in Tuesday’s election.

The candidates differ on a number of issues, including how to fight Ebola. Adams also wants a ban on flights to and from Ebola-plagued African countries. Takano, and federal disease control officials, have said a flight ban could worsen the Ebola outbreak.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@pe.com