Breaking his silence for the first time since calling 911 on five black women for golfing too slowly, Steve Chronister this week said he did nothing wrong, is not a racist and compared his new bid for county commissioner to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Part of why he's running for public office again is because of what his family has been through in the last year, Chronister said.

"Politics is all about timing," he said.

When he knocked on 300 doors to get his petition signed, he said 295 people offered sympathy to his family, three weren't interested in signing a political petition and two didn't want to sign it because of the Grandview incident.

That incident made national headlines after Chronister on April 21 called York County 911 twice on five black women for golfing too slowly.

As that date approaches again, he said, "It's not an anniversary for us. I see it as Easter this year. It's fitting that it's Easter Sunday because we were the victims made to look like the persecutors."

Steve Chronister explains why he's speaking out after year-long silence

Since that April day a year ago, town halls on racism have been held throughout York County, and the five women, police and other witnesses have testified during a state Human Relations Commission hearing about what they experienced that day.

Listen:Full recordings of 911 Grandview calls

Chronister did not testify during that hearing. He remained silent on the advice of legal counsel. But he knows he needs to address the issue now because of his bid for the highest office in the county. He was previously a York county commissioner from 2004 through 2015.

When asked what he's learned from the experience, he said, "What I'm learning is that the Jussie Smollett case is a perfect example of what we're all learning. It's a different world. There is nowhere in York County those women should be afraid to go."

The five women, sometimes referred to as the Grandview Five, are Karen Crosby, Carolyn Dow, Sandra Harrison, Myneca Ojo and Sandra Thompson. They've all repeatedly shared emotional accounts of what they went through since being asked to leave the public Grandview Golf Club in Dover Township.

'Then why did we sell them memberships?': Chronister insists he's not racist

Some of them have said the experience made them afraid to go to other public places in York County. Four of them are seeking public office: Crosby for York County commissioner, Harrison for prothonotary, Ojo for Hanover mayor and Thompson for York County Court of Common Pleas judge.

They are still members of the Grandview Golf Club, and Chronister said they are welcome to golf there.

"We'll take their money," he said. "Would I be happy to see them? It would be tough. But they're welcome to play."

Chronister said if he and his family were racist, "then why did we sell them memberships?"

Grandview has about 100 African-American golfers at the club and is known as the first York County golf course to welcome black players. Chronister said he was a golf pro there decades ago and was proud of the course's history.

Grandview Five still waiting for apology from Chronister

The women say they have not heard from Chronister and didn't receive the one thing they thought would help them heal – an apology.

Chronister on Friday said he regretted how it was handled, but has not offered a public apology.

"We did nothing wrong. We are not racists. We didn't say anything to them we wouldn't have said to anyone else," he said. "There are African-Americans in our family. I've been to Thanksgiving dinners where there were more African-Americans than white people. For us to be accused of something like that is the most hurtful thing."

Chronister pointed to his support of Ray Crenshaw's bid to be York City's first black mayor in 2001. He said he has worked to help the city's Human Relations Commission and the city school district.

Chronister's supporters and critics alike were surprised that he called 911 on those women a year ago.

"I needed someone to mediate. We never planned to charge them. When they decided they weren't going to listen, what was I supposed to do?" Chronister said. "I see police as peacemakers."

Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, sees that differently.

"The police themselves may be peacemakers, but the act of calling police is not peacemaking," Lassiter said. "Why didn’t you see yourself as a peacemaker? The video of them didn’t look like he wanted a peacemaker."

Chronister acknowledged he's never walked in their shoes, but he said he's "always tried to help the black community."

Chronister and Thompson both running for county office

He and Thompson are both vying for the heart of York County. Both say they see the good in York County, even if they define that differently.

"I think the public is smart enough to figure it out. People have common sense," Chronister said.

He said he's running to take care of "unfinished business" and work on things that need to be corrected. His priorities include using pay raises to improve the workforce of 911 workers and Children, Youth and Families employees.

"They are not paid sufficiently. They are both thankless positions. I think we have a lot of those people. I think they are overworked and underpaid," Chronister said.

Debt and lawsuits:Steve Chronister's troubles go well beyond Grandview incident

He always wants to find a way to fund more paid volunteer firefighters throughout the county, get rid of poverty, improve city schools, avoid raising taxes and tackle social issues related to incarcerations.

"Does every victim want an eye for an eye? Yes. I understand that from what I've been through. But it's practically impossible to get," Chronister said.

Thompson, a lawyer and NAACP chapter president who has run for county judge in the past, said she is, "offering myself to the good of York County. I have a heart for the judicial system, working in it for 20 years. I have a diverse legal experience and will be able to reach all communities. My life is to service. I'm running to be a servant. It's not about Chronister or Grandview."

Crosby said she's running "to be a voice for everyone. I just feel as though offering a seat at more tables will definitely unify more people."

Both Thompson and Crosby were disappointed that Chronister has not apologized or taken responsibility for his actions last year at Grandview, but they're not letting that hold back their lives.

"You have to move past it. You can't sit in it," Thompson said. "You have to keep moving forward in faith, despite challenges, despite road blocks, and toward your goals. Don't let your challenges make you bitter, but let them make you better."

Crosby said the answers are in Chronister's actions, not her words.

"That's very interesting that it's taken him a year to come to the conclusion that he and his family are the victims. The tape speaks for itself. Everything that has gone viral speaks for itself. Our testimony under oath speaks for itself," she said.

Human Relations agency decisions still loom

Lassiter said there's still work to be done, including in his own agency.

"Mr. Chronister had an opportunity for his day in court, and he didn’t come. Now because he's running for political office, he wants to testify. It's OK to create a better image of himself because he's running for office, but please don’t put yourself in a position of being persecuted and now resurrected. Let’s not go that far," he said.

"As one resurrects, they have to also be willing to be honest with themselves. You can’t just resurrect and not reform your ways," Lassiter said.

But Lassiter also pointed a finger at himself. His agency has yet to issue recommendations after the Grandview hearings were held in June.

"Our goal is to get it out. We need to complete it. We extend our apologies to the Grandview Five and the larger community. It's a top priority and we're going to get this done really soon," he said. "We know these recommendations are needed."