N.C. Commissioner Has No Regrets in Seeking ‘Non-White Male’ for Public Position

Although some see it as a clear-cut case of race discrimination, Kim Ratliff, a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg County, N.C., doesn’t regret saying that the next country manager should be a “non-white male.”

Ratliff’s comments were made last Friday when she commented on the departure of longtime county manager Harry Jones, WISTV.com reports.

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She said she’d like to see “someone who is diverse–hopefully someone outside of North Carolina would be ideal for me.” Ratliff added that the county needs a “non-white male who can good working relations with all people.”

“I wasn’t saying for white men not to apply,” Ratliff told WBTV this week. “What I was saying was we had a white male county manager. We had a black male. It’s a given those two genders and races will apply. I’m saying to the ladies of every race–take a chance at it.”

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The County Commissioner said she understands why some have characterized her comments as racist.

“Maybe I could have used a better choice of words. But I’m saying everyone apply,” she told WBTV. “The most qualified will be selected. I would like for it to be a woman. If it is not, I’ll still support the person whether it’s white man, black man, or whoever.”

Still, she added, she doesn’t regret saying it.

“Not at all. I mean–true–some residents may have taken it the wrong way,” Ratliff said. “But I said what I said.”