Kansas governor asks county official to resign following "masters race"

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer (right) on Saturday called one of the county commissioners to resign after describing himself as "part of the masters race" when addressing a black woman at the time. a public meeting last week.

Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp, who is white, seemed to have expressed his disapproval of a presentation given by the woman, a planner, 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.

Colyer joined several state officials, including Leavenworth Mayor Mark Preisinger, to call for Klemp's resignation.

"Racial and discriminatory language has no place in our society, especially when it is spoken by a person in a public office," Colyer said in a statement. "The inappropriate words of Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp are unacceptable and do not reflect the values ​​of the county he represents. As such, I am asking him to resign as county commissioner. "

Klemp, in an off-camera exchange with KSHB, hinted that his comment was supposed to be a joke. He did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment. The town planner told KCTV that she did not wish to be part of the story.

Although many of his county colleagues called Klemp to retire, Leavenworth County Administrator Mark Loughry said Klemp's remarks had been "misinterpreted". He added that Klemp was referring to his own discarded teeth.

"The use of the term" Master Race ", as misguided as it is, was not a reference to the Nazis nor used racially in this case," said Loughry in a statement.

"Leavenworth County has a zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in any form whatsoever from any staff member," he said. "I am deeply sorry that a comment misinterpreted by a member of our elected governing body has caused so much grief, sorrow and hatred."

Klemp has drawn criticism in the past for making insensitive racist remarks, including calling Confederate General Robert E. Lee a "wonderful role in history" and claiming that Blacks do not support former President Abraham Lincoln .