Kansas Official Tells Black Woman He’s Part of the ‘Master Race,’ Governor Calls for Resignation

Republican Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer called on Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Kemp to resign after he told a black woman at a public hearing that he’s part of the “master race.”

“Racial and discriminative language have no place in our society, and most especially when spoken by someone holding a public office,” Colyer said in his statement on the afternoon of Nov. 17.

“The inappropriate remarks made by Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of the county which he represents. As such, I call on him to step down as county commissioner,” he added.

Triveece Penelton, the black woman in the video, was making a presentation about road development initiatives during the meeting, Fox4 reported.

“I don’t want you to think I am picking on you because we are part of the master race,” Klemp told Penelton. “You have a gap in your teeth. We are part of the master race. Don’t you forget that.” He then said he didn’t like any of the land use options she presented.

The Leavenworth City Commission, meanwhile, sent out a statement that it “unequivocally denounces the use of ’master race' or any other language that has historic ties to racism, division, and bigotry in any setting at any time.”

“Further, the city commission condemns the lack of decorum, professionalism, and common decency shown to the woman presenting to the county commission. Such behavior and treatment has no place in the Leavenworth community, is never justified, and should never be allowed,” it added.

On the Leavenworth County website, as of Nov. 18, Klemp’s photo was apparently removed. Klemp’s term ends on Jan. 15, 2019, according to The Associated Press.

Fellow commissioners Robert Holland and Doug Smith called on him to resign, Fox News reported. Last year, Holland criticized comments that were made by Klemp about admiring Confederate General Robert E. Lee.  “Not everybody does them all because we have Robert E. Lee ... Oh, God Robert E. Lee...wonderful part of history,” Klemp said at the time, KHSB reported. “It bothers me that if we’re going to have Martin Luther King Day, why don’t we have a George Washington? I think George was a pretty important guy,” he later added.

“I was shocked. I was in disbelief,” Holland told the Leavenworth Times. “He should resign. I don’t care if he’s got two days left, he should resign.”

The city noted it has no authority to remove Klemp from office, but officials believe “it is in the best interest of the Leavenworth community for Mr. Klemp to apologize and resign immediately,” according to the statement.

Klemp told KHSB-TV off-camera that the “master race” comment was a joke. He hasn’t issued a public statement on the matter.

Mark Loughry, the county’s administrator, told the Kansas City Star that Klemp wasn’t acting in a “racist manner” when he made the comments to the woman, adding that they both have gaps in their teeth.

“The use of the term ‘Master Race,’ as ill-advised as it may be, was not a reference to Nazis or used in a racist manner in this instance,” said Loughry. “I am deeply sorry that one misconstrued comment by a member of our elected governing body has caused so much grief, sorrow, and hatred.”