Michigan Official Faces Calls To Resign Over Racial Slur

A Michigan elected official is facing calls to resign after allegedly using a racial slur during a virtual meeting. WPBN's Marc Schollett reports.

(WPBN/NBC News) — A Michigan elected official is facing calls to resign after allegedly using a racial slur during a virtual meeting.

The comment was reportedly made by Leelanau County Road Commissioner Tom Eckerle moments before this week’s online commission meeting began.

According to those watching, Eckerle was asked why he wasn’t wearing a mask, and Eckerle responded he didn’t need to because “This whole thing is because of them n*****s down in Detroit.”

“Obviously, from a personal perspective, I am very disappointed these comments are being made in 2020,” County Administrator Chet Janek says. “For anybody, much less an elected official to make these comments is very disappointing.”

There have been calls for the county to fire Eckerle, but Janek says it’s not that simple.

“I can tell you if this was a county employee there would be severe disciplinary action taken,” Janek says.

Eckerle, however, is an elected official, not an employee.

Read more here.