Former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco said the race riots during his first term in office were a "scary, horrible time."

But that didn't stop him from equating the riots with a "panty raid" during the St. Petersburg Times-Bay News 9 televised debate Tuesday night.

"It was more like a panty raid-type thing," the candidate said in a response about race relations in the city.

Some folks criticized Greco for his choice of words. The June 1967 riots, sparked by the shooting death of a black teenager by police, resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests and costly damages.

"It was a very intense time when the town was about to explode," said Tampa lawyer Delano Stewart.

Here's the full story.