SANTA CLARITA — Councilman Bob Kellar introduced a resolution Monday in support of actor Mel Gibson as a way to “counter the negative publicity” recently generated by the troubled celebrity.

“The City of Santa Clarita throws its unconditional support behind Mel Gibson,” reads the opening paragraph of the resolution, “the man who directed the greatest film of Jesus ever made.”

In an audio clip that surfaced on the internet earlier this month, the Lethal Weapon star is heard threatening his ex-girlfriend in a violent tirade of racial slurs and epithets.

“He [Gibson] is not a bad guy,” stated Kellar, who expressed his frustration at the way people are “given labels” merely because of the words they choose. “Just because someone uses the N-word doesn’t make him a ‘racist,’ any more than saying he hates all Jews makes him an ‘anti-Semite.’”

Kellar believes the whole matter has been blown out of proportion, and the city should stand behind Gibson as a matter of principle. “Just because he smashed his girlfriend’s face in, gave her a few bruises and broke all her teeth, doesn’t make him an ‘abuser’ — he was clearly just trying to make a point.”

The resolution, expected to pass with a unanimous vote, extends an open invitation to Gibson to relocate to Santa Clarita.

“If those Beverly Hills lefties chase him out of town,” noted Kellar, “we want Mel to know that he always has a home here.”

Gibson was unavailable for comment.

Added Kellar: “If we were all judged on the things we did and said — and how we felt inside and if we treated everyone fairly, regardless of race, religion, blah blah blah — my fellow council members and I wouldn’t keep getting elected every year.”