09-02-2009, 04:34 PM
Lake Co. official willing to apologize after accusations of racism
By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald Staff
Contact writer
Lake County Board member Mary Ross Cunningham, a Waukegan Democrat
John Starks | Staff Photographer
1 of 1
Browse All Image Galleries
print story
email story
Published: 9/2/2009 3:26 PM
Send To:
E-mail:
To:
From:
Name:
E-mail:
Comments:
(22) | read | post
Buzz up!
More Coverage
Stories
* Lake County board member charges racism over vote [09/01/09]
A day after a racially tinged public outburst, a Lake County Board member on Wednesday said she'd apologize to any of her peers who viewed her remarks as an accusation of prejudice.
"I wasn't calling them prejudiced," said Waukegan Democrat Mary Ross Cunningham, who is one of three black commissioners on the 23-member board. "If they took it that way, I will apologize."
During a meeting of the board's health committee on Tuesday afternoon, Cunningham attacked her fellow panelists for not supporting a proposed resolution endorsing President Obama's "health care reform principles."
Several committee members said they didn't think such action was necessary because the health care plan is a federal issue, not a county matter. But Cunningham said they opposed it because the draft she presented was promoted by the National Association of Black County Officials.
"When I saw 'black,' I knew then it wasn't going to fly," Cunningham told the group Tuesday during an angry diatribe.
Several board members took Cunningham's remark as an accusation that they're racist. It prompted an immediate outcry and was denounced by several members of the panel.
"It's out of line," committee member Linda Pedersen, an Antioch Republican, said afterward. "That certainly is not the reason we're not supporting (the resolution)."
During a telephone interview Wednesday, Cunningham said she wasn't calling the committee members racist.
Even so, Cunningham wouldn't elaborate or explain the comment other than to say "it was just a word I said."
When asked if she really believed the commissioners opposed drafting the resolution because the group promoting it consists of black people, she said, "Yes and no."
Cunningham initially was reluctant to apologize but said she would "if they thought I thought they were prejudiced."
Cunningham said she likely would approach the members individually. If the issue comes up when the full board meets Friday morning for a committee-of-the-whole session, she said she might apologize then.
"I don't know, because it might not even come up," she said.
Cunningham said another apology is in order: one from health committee leader Steve Carlson, who repeatedly tried to quiet Cunningham during her tirade Tuesday.
"Steve needs to apologize to me for the way he speaks to me," she said.
Carlson, however, maintains he gave Cunningham more than the usually allotted time for her to talk at the meeting and was polite, even when he asked her to allow another commissioner to speak.
He said he would accept an apology from Cunningham, if one is offered.
By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald Staff
Contact writer
Lake County Board member Mary Ross Cunningham, a Waukegan Democrat
John Starks | Staff Photographer
1 of 1
Browse All Image Galleries
print story
email story
Published: 9/2/2009 3:26 PM
Send To:
E-mail:
To:
From:
Name:
E-mail:
Comments:
(22) | read | post
Buzz up!
More Coverage
Stories
* Lake County board member charges racism over vote [09/01/09]
A day after a racially tinged public outburst, a Lake County Board member on Wednesday said she'd apologize to any of her peers who viewed her remarks as an accusation of prejudice.
"I wasn't calling them prejudiced," said Waukegan Democrat Mary Ross Cunningham, who is one of three black commissioners on the 23-member board. "If they took it that way, I will apologize."
During a meeting of the board's health committee on Tuesday afternoon, Cunningham attacked her fellow panelists for not supporting a proposed resolution endorsing President Obama's "health care reform principles."
Several committee members said they didn't think such action was necessary because the health care plan is a federal issue, not a county matter. But Cunningham said they opposed it because the draft she presented was promoted by the National Association of Black County Officials.
"When I saw 'black,' I knew then it wasn't going to fly," Cunningham told the group Tuesday during an angry diatribe.
Several board members took Cunningham's remark as an accusation that they're racist. It prompted an immediate outcry and was denounced by several members of the panel.
"It's out of line," committee member Linda Pedersen, an Antioch Republican, said afterward. "That certainly is not the reason we're not supporting (the resolution)."
During a telephone interview Wednesday, Cunningham said she wasn't calling the committee members racist.
Even so, Cunningham wouldn't elaborate or explain the comment other than to say "it was just a word I said."
When asked if she really believed the commissioners opposed drafting the resolution because the group promoting it consists of black people, she said, "Yes and no."
Cunningham initially was reluctant to apologize but said she would "if they thought I thought they were prejudiced."
Cunningham said she likely would approach the members individually. If the issue comes up when the full board meets Friday morning for a committee-of-the-whole session, she said she might apologize then.
"I don't know, because it might not even come up," she said.
Cunningham said another apology is in order: one from health committee leader Steve Carlson, who repeatedly tried to quiet Cunningham during her tirade Tuesday.
"Steve needs to apologize to me for the way he speaks to me," she said.
Carlson, however, maintains he gave Cunningham more than the usually allotted time for her to talk at the meeting and was polite, even when he asked her to allow another commissioner to speak.
He said he would accept an apology from Cunningham, if one is offered.