ROSELAND, N.J. (AP) - Two members of a New Jersey town’s governing body say they won’t resign after inappropriate comments they made during group text conversation with other officials last year became public.
Republican party officials had announced nearly two weeks ago that Roseland Councilmen Tom Tsilionis and David Jacobs would step down. But during Tuesday night’s borough council meeting, the pair said they will remain in their positions.
The GOP lawmakers had exchanged messages containing racial and ethnic comments during a May 2016 text conversation with other council members and the mayor of the Essex County town. The other officials didn’t take part in the exchange, which became public after another councilman released the messages to a local newspaper last week.
Both men had apologized for the exchange. Tsilionis said the messages were a “silly, stupid, senseless joke” that he regretted making.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.