Don't give this guy the time of day

Then there’s John Labriola.

​Known more for the moniker I gave him, Library Guy, he is the face of all that is evil and hateful in Citrus County.
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John thinks it’s good sport to call out the disenfranchised, folks who linger in the shadows because they fear evil like John.

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He hides behind the insulting term “Christian Conservative.” I’m Christian; John is nothing like the Christians I know. My Christian friends are loving, giving, and open-minded even in areas they fundamentally disagree. 

John uses his boyhood charm to trick well-meaning people into thinking evil exists in our libraries and schools, when in reality he’s the one producing it. Can you imagine what that life is like? 

Someone was once being particularly mean to me. I spilled the problem to a good friend, who said I should be grateful.

“Grateful?” I asked. “Did you hear a word I said?”

He answered: “Be grateful your heart doesn’t beat like that.”

While I’m grateful my heart doesn’t beat like the one in John’s cold cave, he would just be an annoying South Florida carpetbagger trying to push his way around Citrus County if not for one significant point.

He wants to be elected to public office.

And that’s where we step in.

Inverness — I’m talking to you, neighbors — seriously needs to pay attention to this City Council race between John “Library Guy” Labriola and incumbent Jacquie Hepfer.

We could not have two more diverse candidates in what matters most: Character.

Jacquie has plenty of it. John, none that I can see.

Let’s talk about Library Guy for a moment. (Here's my blog from his campaign two years ago.) People often ask why I write about him so much. Am I not giving him the attention he craves? 

Well, it’s like this: We can either swat at the annoying gnat or pretend it’s not there. What he craves is confrontation on his turf; bullies always prefer their home field.

And bullying is his calling card. It may be dressed up in sweetness, but Labriola is a menace. His “Christian” message is filled with hate. Library book debates are just a facade for what’s really taking place: An attempt to harass, silence, and shut away those who are different.

My friend Becky Beattie dropped by the other day for a chat. Becky is a force of nature. A true Christian woman, she loves the Lord and all his creations. And, like other strong Christian women in my life, she is not to be messed with.

Becky has trans friends. Their experiences in Citrus County are harrowing. They’re judged terribly everywhere they go. A simple trip to the grocery store is a frightening nightmare for these folks.

Look. I’m an old guy who doesn’t understand LGBTQ. Just being honest. Here’s the deal, though: I don’t need to understand it. Why? It’s NONE OF MY BUSINESS. My job is to love others, especially those who are different from me. That’s the direction from my God, the same one that John Labriola supposedly cites when he’s shooting evil daggers at others.

Sorry, man, but it doesn’t work that way. And it especially shouldn’t work that way in my Inverness.

Now, about Jacquie. She’s been on the City Council for quite a few years. Some of her positions I agree with, some I don’t. Had this been a real election, with an opponent who gives a rip about the community, we’d probably see some decent debate about the city’s future.

We don’t have that. We have Jacquie and Library Guy.

A few months back I was sitting with a candidate outside Cattle Dog’s, and Jacquie walked by. We chatted, and she said she was having knee replacement surgery. She was going to be holed up at home for quite a while.

“Would you like me to come by and read Scripture while you’re healing?” I asked. She jumped at that, and now we meet for an hour every Wednesday afternoon at her house for Bible study. No politics, no blog. Just Jesus.

After a few weeks, I sent an email to John inviting him to join us. I didn’t get a reply. (John, if you’re reading this, the invite still applies. Send me a note, and I’ll get you the particulars.)

I enjoy a good municipal election. I haven’t written anything about the open Inverness Council seat, but I will. Same for Crystal River Council races.

Some things take priority. There’s a rabid animal on the loose. Thought you should know.

Have a wonderful Thursday, friends.

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