The Budget Board is made up of the county’s eight elected officials, including Commissioner Karen Keith.

“I’m appalled that an elected official would make such a remark in any setting, let alone a public meeting,” Keith said Wednesday. “This is simply a barbaric statement.”

Yazel, 69, said Tuesday that he was not advocating public hangings but also did not back away from the statement.

“The bad guys are committing a crime and then getting out and committing it again,” he said.

“You hang them in the public square. Then they won’t do it again. Neither will some of their friends watching.”

Yazel said his remarks Monday were made after a long discussion regarding scheduling of jury trials, jail overcrowding and its associated costs, and ways to reduce crime.

“They were arguing about how to fund or not fund the jail,” Yazel said. “The point is you’re either going to have to lock them up or do something to stop this high crime rate. I want speedy justice and swiftness so we don’t have to arrest them again.”

The audio tape of the meeting confirms Yazel’s description of the events leading up to his remarks.