LAKELAND, Fla. — A volunteer member of Lakeland's utilities board is being asked to resign after making controversial comments at a budget meeting.
When discussing the black community in Lakeland, Steve Wade said, "Just a culture that's really going backwards, almost like animals."
A lot of people in the community felt his comments were racist and called for him to be removed from the board.
"I found his remarks so beyond the pale that I can't support him being on the committee," said city Commissioner Don Selvage.
The entire city commission voted that Wade should no longer sit on the board.
Wade apologized for using the word animals. He also apologized to the mayor via email.
WFTV
