Is the raunchy radio show host also the N.J. school board member up for election?

Ray Anthony is an Idiot.

He jokes that HIV is a great way to lose weight, refers to a local police officer as a fat pig, and calls a woman who served him the wrong doughnuts a whore.

During an hour-long show Monday evenings on the Wildfire Radio internet streaming service called The Idiots, Ray Anthony and his cohosts talk so much about sexual behaviors and body parts that even Donald Trump might find it disgusting. He drops the f-bomb and other curses so often that if a nun were in the South Jersey studio, she surely would bloody his knuckles - or worse.

So who is Ray Anthony, and why are some in the quiet Atlantic County town of Hammonton concerned about this Idiot?

Because, they say, they believe Ray Anthony is Ray Anthony Scipione, 46, a father of twin boys who sits on the Hammonton school board and is on the Nov. 8 ballot to retain his seat.

The tone and topics of The Idiots are perceived by some, including Scipione's opponent in the school board race, as setting a poor example for children. Others say the show is for adult audiences and is unrelated to school board work.

Last fall, Scipione applied for the school board seat that was being vacated by Joe Giralo, who was elected to the city council.

In a recent interview, Giralo said he listened to "10 seconds" of The Idiots.

"It's offensive," said Giralo, who served on the school board for more than a decade. Those who hold office, he said, should be held to a higher standard: "If you want to do that, then go do it. But don't be in a public life."

Scipione wouldn't say what he thinks, or clarify whether he is the radio personality Ray Anthony.

During a brief telephone conversation with a reporter, Scipione grunted when asked about the show. He neither confirmed nor denied he was Ray Anthony. Then the call disconnected.

That evening, Scipione left a voice message for the reporter with instructions to submit questions in writing to his Yahoo email account, which uses the name Ray Anthony. He never responded to the questions.

Earlier this month, Ray Anthony missed the Idiots show on the night a reporter waited at the Gloucester County studio for his arrival. The next week, he wore a surgical mask that covered his face.

Ray Scipione missed the school board meeting the night a reporter waited for him there. Standing in his driveway at his home, he retreated inside when a reporter approached.

A small sign posted on the front door reads: "Notice!!! Unless I am expecting you or you are making a delivery, do not even think about knocking or ringing this door!! Do not leave any religious flyers. I don't lend money to anyone!! If your baby needs food, steal it!! We answer the door armed!! You have been warned!!"

In recent days, information on social media websites under Ray Scipione's name has disappeared, including two posts about The Idiots on Scipione's personal Facebook page.

In October 2015, a Facebook post from Scipione to his friend and fellow comedian Andy Julia read, "Andy I want to talk to you about doing a radio show with me on wildfire." On the show's web page, Julia is listed as the other host of The Idiots.

Weeks later, The Idiots was livestreaming. On the debut show in November, Anthony said, "Pretty much everything was my idea. . . . I said, how can I get on the radio and be funny?"

Internet radio is not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, so language on The Idiots can be vulgar.

Within seconds of going live for the first show last November, the cursing began. Anthony laughed at one point, saying he wanted the show to be "for families."

During the show, Anthony used a gay slur and joked that HIV is "a great way to lose weight if you have to lose 180 pounds or more." When banter centered on Jesus, Anthony said, "I am not going to put up with anything against Allah because I am going home tonight in one piece, Andy, these guys will come after us, I'm telling ya."

Few groups escape the insulting language. The hosts mock various ethnic groups and use demeaning words for women. All the episodes are available on the Wildfire Radio site.

The free-for-all at the studio is a stark contrast to the controlled Hammonton school board meetings Scipione has attended monthly since his appointment in December to fill Giralo's unexpired term.

School Board President Sam Mento III spoke highly of Scipione's dedication, his "extensive business credentials," and "keen knowledge of athletics." He said he had no knowledge of the radio broadcast, and "I have no comment on an Idiots show."

Mento said he advised Scipione to consult with the board solicitor regarding questions for this article. The solicitor, William Donio of Atlantic City, did not return repeated calls and emails seeking comment.

Scipione's school board opponent, Joseph Ingemi, 41, an Army veteran and a private technology consultant, said those on the school board should serve as role models for the district's 3,500 students, and voters have to decide the values of those who represent them on the nonpartisan school board. "I don't condone that type of behavior for a sitting member of the school board," Ingemi said of The Idiots. "It's deliberate and consistent, and I think it represents a level of immaturity, lack of judgment, and to a certain degree a lack of ethics."

Not only that, Ingemi said, he doesn't think The Idiots is funny.

Hammonton school board members are not compensated for their service. They must sign an ethics agreement that states, "I recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board."

Marcus Darpino, one of four partners who operate the Gloucester County-based Wildfire, which leases air and studio time to The Idiots, said radio hosts often have to balance their public personas with their personal lives. The service also features programs by hosts such as local comedian Big Daddy Graham and sports broadcaster Glen Macnow.

"It's adult humor," said Darpino, who has two young daughters. He compared Idiots listeners to those who favor acts such as Chris Rock and Howard Stern.

"They cross lines that I'm not willing to personally," Darpino said of The Idiots. "I try to keep a close eye on them. So far they have tightrope-walked that line."

Scipione had been defeated for the school board two previous times, including last year, when Ingemi also was defeated.

Since he began serving on the school board, Scipione has headed fund-raising efforts to plant 50 trees at the high school for Arbor Day. He also recruited a local contractor to donate labor to improve the middle school track, said Mento.

"I think any school board would be lucky to have such a committed and hardworking member such as Ray Scipione, who has served the taxpayers and children without any agenda and made a supreme commitment to the board," Mento said.

Mento, who has a teenage daughter and 12-year-old son, said he has been disappointed with the U.S. presidential campaign, having to change channels during pre-debate commentary because of Donald Trump's language. He's voting for Hillary Clinton, he volunteered.

"I understand there is a need to draw a correlation with the presidential election," Mento said. "I will not let you or a big-city paper bring my school board down to the depths of the presidential election. All the people on the school board are good people."

bboyer@phillynews.com

856-779-3838@BBBoyer