A campaign ad for Republican mayoral candidate Matt Kelty funded by a political-action committee has the county’s party chairman on edge.

On Friday morning Steve Shine sent a letter to Kelty letting him know he was concerned about the ad, paid for by the American Family Association of Indiana.

The ad, which began airing Thursday, portrays Kelty as a Christian father who is pro-life. It also says Kelty’s opponent, Democrat Tom Henry, supported legislation while he was on City Council that promoted gay rights and that he refused to take a stand against sexually oriented businesses.

Shine wrote, “As you well know, in politics, perception—especially a negative or inflammatory one—can quickly become accepted fact in the minds of the public. That is why I am so deeply concerned about the perceptions that may be left in the minds of those who hear the American Family Association’s radio advertisement that is now airing on your behalf.” Shine told The News-Sentinel on Friday he is worried the ad promotes intolerance because, as chair, he has worked hard to bring diversity to the party.

Kelty, who had not heard the commercial as of Friday afternoon, said his campaign played no role in its creation. He said the AFA did not contact him before it aired, and as an independent organization, it can pay for any commercial it wants. He was unsure if he would request it be taken off the air.

“I’d have to hear it first and know what it says,” Kelty said. “The American Family Association has done so much good to make the community stronger for families.”

Henry said he did push for the 2001 law the ad cites because it addressed discrimination. On Friday, he was clear in his disdain of the ad.

“If anyone was doing negative campaigning on my behalf, I’d be firing people,” he said.

Michael Wolf, an assistant professor of political science at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, said the radio spot can be characterized as a negative comparison ad. It’s not uncommon, he said, to have such an ad paid for by a group not affiliated with a candidate air this close to an election. Negative ads have proved to be an effective method of reaching voters, he said.

“I think there’s going to be more of this.”

A message left for the AFA was not returned Friday afternoon.