POULSBO — When Mayor Kathryn Quade presents Jasmine Campbell, Whitney Glebe and Elisabeth Almond a key to the city tonight, she won’t see one thing: the color of their skin.

After Campbell, who is African-American, won the 2006 Viking Fest pageant April 22, festival organizers received at least 11 e-mails decrying her victory and stating that she shouldn’t wear the crown because of her race.

The North Kitsap Herald brought those e-mails to light in its May 6 editorial and on Monday, Quade made her first public statement to the issue.

“We don’t tolerate intolerance in our community,” Quade said.

Campbell and all of the contestants in the pageant showed their leadership in their participation, she said.

“She simply shone during the pageant and is intelligent, well-spoken and a great part of our community,” Quade said, adding that Campbell is a role model, not because of her race, but rather because of who she is as a person.

“I hope we can shield all the girls, and I want them to all know that the community cares about them,” Quade said.

Due to the nature of the e-mails, Poulsbo Police Sgt. Bill Playter said the department will be conducting its own investigation to see if any crimes have been committed.

As of Monday morning, the department was waiting for copies of the e-mails to be delivered by Viking Fest organizers, Playter said.

“Whatever needs to be done, we’re going to do,” Playter said.

The president of the Kitsap County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Ray Rogers said the group is proud to see the way Viking Fest Corporation has rallied around Campbell and how it is standing behind its decision.

“She’s just an amazing lady who ran in a contest and won and she should be treated properly,” Rogers said.

The NAACP is going to spread the word throughout the community and encourage people to come out to Viking Fest to support Campbell, he said.

“We’re going to be supporting her and putting a positive spin on this,” he said.

The way the community has risen to Campbell’s side is a step in changing people’s perception of Poulsbo, he said.

“A lot of people of color are very skeptical of Poulsbo and it’s great to know that people aren’t all that way,” Rogers said.

Area pastors and other clergy are also uniting behind Campbell in an effort led by Larry Robertson, pastor of Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Bremerton.

“It’s a very disturbing situation, but I spoke with Jasmine and she’s got a wonderful attitude and spirit,” Robertson said.

To that end, Robertson said he is working with other pastors to find a way to respond to this incident.

After word of the negative e-mails got out, Viking Fest Secretary Kathi Foresee said the response from the community has been nothing but positive.

“I think this ugly incident with ugly e-mails is pulling the community together,” Foresee said, noting that she has received e-mails from as far away as Everett supporting Campbell.

The e-mails have caused many people in the community to step out and take a stand against racism, she said.

“I’m very proud of Jasmine and the way she’s handling this,” Foresee said. “I am most impressed with the city of Poulsbo, the mayor, the Herald staff and everybody who is rallying around her to make this a positive experience.”