Mayor Apologizes For 'Mexicans' Comment

After an ethics complaint was filed by a city employee, Arlington mayor Dr. Robert Cluck, says he is sorry.

The complaint, filed in late February said there was a conversation taking place inside council member Robert Rivera?s office. It says there were three people in the meeting, the mayor, Rivera and a fire department employee. Rivera was talking about going to a conference for Latino elected officials in Washington, DC.

The complaint said: ?Mr. Rivera indicated it was a meeting of Latino leaders and Mayor Cluck said, "oh a bunch of Mexicans," Mr Crow [fire department employee] said "I don't think you can say that," the Mayor said "what Mexican?" The Mayor then left the office. The door to Mr. Rivera's office was open and they were talking very loud when this happened."

Council member Rivera, over the phone told NBC 5, ?what is important is that the integrity of workplace is maintained for our city employees, it is unfortunate that any city employee was offended by these comments.?

Rivera would not respond when asked if he was offended by the comment.

Meanwhile, Mayor Cluck said the conversation was about attendance at a city council meeting.

?Someone had told me he was going to be at a meeting at a Mexican restaurant here in Arlington, it went from there and went viral I guess,? said Mayor Cluck.

However, he is apologizing for the matter. "I am totally colorblind, always have been,? he said, ?if I said something to offend people, I am sorry.?

The mayor added that Arlington is close to having a minority-majority population, with a large Hispanic population.

Rivera is the only minority council member. He represents Arlington?s District 3.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46701288/ns/local_news-dallas_fort_worth_tx/

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