An Arizona state representative was caught on tape making racially-insensitive comments during a college lecture, according to reports.
Republican State Rep. David Stringer was a speaker at a political history lecture at Arizona State when he said African-Americans "don't blend in," according to audio obtained by the Phoenix New Times.
During the lecture, Stringer says non-native English speaking students are a burden on taxpayers, according to the Phoenix New Times.
“Representative Stringer’s comments are vile and won’t be tolerated,” said Speaker-elect Rusty Bowers in a news release.
“His remarks don’t reflect the sentiments of the Arizona Legislature, the constituents we represent, and the policies we enact. Given the diversity of my own family, I take personal offense to these disgusting comments. I gave Representative Stringer a critical assignment as chair of the Sentencing and Recidivism Reform Committee. These comments render him incapable of performing his duties as chair. I asked Representative Stringer to resign as chair of the committee, and he has agreed to do so,” Bowers said.
In June 2018, Stringer was shown on video telling voters, "60% of public school children in the state of Arizona today are minorities. That complicates racial integration because there aren’t enough white kids to go around."
After those comments, Stringer held a news conference with activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin, where he dodged an apology for the statements.
The Arizona Republican party called for his resignation in June. He did not resign.
Stringer was re-elected to represent Yavapai County in November.