(AP) — A white man nominated by Honolulu’s mayor to fill a vacancy on the police commission is withdrawing his name from consideration after receiving criticism for saying there’s no racism in Hawaiʻi. Seventy-seven-year-old Larry Ignas said at a City Council meeting earlier this week that he doesn’t believe racial discrimination exists in Hawaii. Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who is also white, says that under the circumstances, Ignas is withdrawing from consideration. Blangiardi says he will work on vetting a new candidate. Ignas didn’t immediately return a phone message left with his wife.

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