A member of the Saline county commission says he won’t resign after being criticized for using a racial slur during a public meeting.

Saline County Commissioner Jim Gile used the slur last week while the commission was discussing hiring an architect for a county project.

When Gile was asked what he meant, he responded “Afro-Americanized.”

On Tuesday, two Salina residents attended the commission’s meeting to ask Gile to resign.

Gile read a statement apologizing for using the phrase, saying he recognized he was wrong. Gile said after the meeting he would not resign.

Commission Chairman Randy Duncan said he accepted Gile’s apology.

Gile was elected in November to his first four-year term on the commission.