ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Scott Orsini, a candidate for St. Petersburg City Council's District 1 seat, withdrew from the race Wednesday, citing "politically motivated attacks" following social media posts he described as "insensitive and immature."
Orsini made the announcement on Facebook, saying "it hurts to have to end my run."
"After consulting with my family and my friends, I have made the decision that continuing on as a candidate for District 1 would not be of benefit to myself, my family, my supporters, or the City of St. Petersburg," he wrote.
On June 28, Orsini issued a statement saying he had reviewed approximately 29,000 tweets he had made over the past decade and found "a small number of tweets to and about the LGTBQ community that are crass, insensitive and immature. One particular tweet in 2013 mentions in the LGTBQ community in an unflattering light that I know to be insensitive and immature."
"I sincerely apologize," he said.
In the statement, he gave no indication he would withdraw from the race.
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