Commissioner Stephen Deutsch will keep his job on the Charlotte County Board of Commissioners after using a racial slur in a conversation with another county official.
"I should not have used that word and haven't used it before, and I certainly apologize, actually apologize to all of you. The only thing I can assure you is that definitely will never happen again," Deutsch said.
On Tuesday, Deutsch apologized for using the offensive term during a conversation with Metropolitan Planning Organization Director D'Juan Harris in December.
"And I shared with him, feeling we were on a high level of communication with political differences, talking about how we both grew up poor, different environments, and I shared with him, I said, 'Believe it or not, I was actually called the N-word when I was a youngster.'"
"I shouldn't have done that. He got upset and angry and said '(Expletive) I hate that (expletive) word.' I said, 'Hey, I'm sorry.' I apologized. I didn't mean to offend you. I am sorry I was called that word; I never use that word," Deutsch said.
Fellow commissioners said Deutsch violated county policy by using the racial slur.
Commissioner Bill Truex called for Deutsch to resign.
"That such actions are not tolerated ... bring shame to the entire board, not tolerated. I ask you to resign," Truex said.
Deutsch did not resign Tuesday and will now have to complete multiple management training courses with human resources on-site before the end of this month.
Harris, who reported the incident to the county, already planned to leave his position this month.