LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. - An Arizona councilman made insensitive remarks about Jews during a meeting about a contract for the city manager.
Councilman Lee Barnes referred to himself as “just a little Jewish’’ when it comes to finances while discussing the contract of the ousted city manager during a special meeting Tuesday.
Mayor Mark Nexsen referred to Barnes’s statement as “inappropriate.’’ Nexsen said he plans to talk to Barnes about his poor choice of words. The mayor added that Barnes owes the community an apology.
Barnes later said he understood his words could be seen as derogatory and stereotyping.
The city council voted Tuesday evening to fire city manager Richard Kaffenberger.
Earlier this week, two Republican county officials in South Carolina apologized after disparaging Jews in a newspaper opinion piece in support of a fiscally conservative US senator.
