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A Kansas County official resigned in the aftermath of criticism for remarks he made to a black town planner about a "magisterial race" at a public meeting earlier this month.
Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp announced that his resignation would take effect at 9:00 am on Tuesday in a letter to Leavenworth County Clerk Janet Klasinski and obtained by HuffPost.
"It is with great sadness that I submit this letter to the community I love and have been part of for more than 80 years," Klemp writes in this letter.
He continued, "In order to stay focused and prioritize the county's needs, I made the decision to resign. I regret my recent comments at a meeting of the Leavenworth County Commission and the resulting negative feedback to the community. "
Kansas officials, including Governor Jeff Colyer (D), called on Klemp to resign following his controversial remarks at the public meeting.
Klemp, who is white, seemed to have expressed his disapproval of a presentation given by the woman, a planner, a few moments before making an improvised comment.
"I do not want to believe that I make fun of you because we are part of the masters race," Klemp said to the woman making a close gesture. "You know you have a hole in your teeth. You are the master race. Never forget it.
In his letter of resignation, Klemp denied that his remarks were motivated by racism.
"My attempts to identify a similarity (a gap between our teeth) with a presenter were well-intentioned but misinterpreted by some," he wrote.
This is a story in development. Check back for updates.
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