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By Didi Martinez
A Kansas County commissioner whose commentary that he was part of the "Masters race" sparked negative reactions nationwide, announced that he was resigning from his post.
In a letter of resignation obtained by NBC News to Leavenworth County Clerk Janet Klasinski, former County Commissioner Louis Klemp announced that he would leave his position Tuesday at 9 am.
"In order to stay focused and prioritize the county's needs, I made the decision to resign," Klemp wrote. "I regret my recent comments at a meeting of the Leavenworth County Commission and the resulting negative feedback to the community."
Klemp's decision follows various calls from members of the community following a conversation that he had on November 13 with Triveece Penelton, a black urban planner, at a meeting of the board of directors . According to the video of the meeting, the Commissioner disagreed with Penelton's proposed development plan and said that she should not think she was bothering her because they "belonged to the main race".
The Leavenworth County administrator commented on Klemp's remarks on Friday, saying the words "did not refer to the Nazis" and that the commissioner was referring to the gap between him and the woman.
"On several occasions over the past year, Mr. Klemp said that people with a hole in the front teeth are members of the master race," said Loughry's administrator.
But the statement has always provoked outrage, including from Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, who on Saturday called for Klemp's resignation.
While Klemp told KSHB-TV, an affiliate member of NBC in Kansas City, that his comment was a joke, the commissioner finally accepted the calls for his ouster.
"My attempts to identify a similarity (a gap between our teeth) with a presenter were well-intentioned, but misinterpreted by some and undoubtedly for racial reasons," writes Klemp in his letter. "I contacted the presenter and extended my regrets and my support."
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