Council member apologizes for ‘Jewish’ remark

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A Lake Havasu City Council member issued a public apology Wednesday, one day after he drew hisses and boos when he made a remark that offended many.

Councilman Lee Barnes complied with Mayor Mark Nexsen's request to make amends for the comment he made during a special council meeting Tuesday.

"I am a little too 'Jewish' to be able to do that," Barnes said about the estimated $160,000 cost of firing City Manager Richard Kaffenberger, who is guaranteed payment of salary and benefits for the rest of the 11 months of his contract. The council voted 4-3 to end Kaffenberger's employment.

"I used poor judgment and a poor choice of words when I attempted to express my concerns regarding spending taxpayer dollars unnecessarily," Barnes said in a statement.

Kaffenberger was under fire for his handling of personnel matters and for trying to persuade the council to change project managers for the wastewater system expansion program without putting the matter out to bid.