Apple Valley candidate Bunck says neo-Nazi affiliation is in the past

HESPERIA, Calif. (KABC) -- A local candidate's past is coming back to haunt him decades after being affiliated with a neo-Nazi party.

The big issues in the race for town council in Apple Valley are water rates and jobs. But that's not what has this race heating up.

Candidate Richard Bunck is running for a seat on the Apple Valley Town Council. In the 1970s, Bunck says he was affiliated with a neo-Nazi group.

Bunck says he knew his past would come out when he ran for political office. He says he has been forthcoming with his past association with the neo-Nazi party four decades ago.

"I left that organization that I was associated with for about nine months because I didn't agree with the rhetoric and I didn't agree with what they were doing," said Bunck.

"Getting a man like Richard Bunck elected, who is a known, practicing neo-Nazi will bring disgrace, dishonor and horrible publicity for the High Desert," said Hesperia City Councilman Russ Blewett.

Blewett says he normally wouldn't get involved in another community's race, but Bunck is his one exception.

"Public office is a public trust, and I believe that with all my heart," said Bunck. "I don't believe that I could trust a man like Richard Bunck."

"Number one, I am not a hater," said Bunck. "I don't operate on hate. Number two, I am not a white supremacist and never even considered myself that, ever."

But there are still questions.

Ten years ago, Bunck inherited a church listed by hate-watchdog group the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white Christian identity church.

Bunck claims that church is no longer active, but he does hold Bible studies.

"They're just simply wrong on that," said Bunck. "They've got bad information or whatever. Again, they've never come and to talked to me and asked me anything about it."

His neo-Nazi past has some voters concerned.

"It would concern me because just the history about the neo-Nazi stuff. It's just the concern on that," said Apple Valley resident Araceli Valenzuela.

"I hate to say it, I don't know the guy personally but I do know a little bit of the history, and I don't think I want to be involved in allowing someone who's got that kind of a past in office," said Lucerne resident Eric Winbigler.

But Bunck says voters have nothing to fear.

"I am not what they paint me to be," said Bunck.

Bunck says his neo-Nazi affiliation is decades in the past and he's hopeful that the voters of Apple Valley will give him a chance on Election Day.