Two Snohomish County fire commissioners apologized Friday night for making racially insensitive comments when they joked about hiring “cheaper” Mexican laborers for a paramedic position.
But an attempt to impose disciplinary action failed on a 2-2 tie vote by the commissioners for Fire District 1.
Commissioner Jim Kenny asked that the two board members, David Chan and Bob Meador, receive a written reprimand. He also proposed that they each write an apology, take a course on diversity and communications and consider resignation. He was joined by Commission Chairman Jim McGaughey.
But Chan and Meador voted against disciplining themselves, and one commissioner, Richard Schrock, was absent from the special meeting of the five-member board and the resolution did not pass.