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A statement from Washington's mayor referring to "a negro women on our governing body" was meant to highlight diversity, but instead is an example of the varying reactions that race and language can invoke. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

Responding to a criticism about diversity, a Warren County mayor boasted: "We have a negro woman on our governing body."

The statement, in an email from Mayor Scott McDonald, was meant to highlight diversity in Washington Borough government but instead is an example of the varying reactions race and language can invoke, observers said.

Washington Borough Councilwoman Ethel Conry, right, says she takes no offense to Mayor Scott McDonald's statement referring to her as a "negro woman." (lehighvalleylive.com file photos)

"That's shocking, that that term's still used," said Lance Wheeler, president of the NAACP chapter in Easton, when told of the email dialogue.

Not only did it distract from the intended message, Wheeler said, but it gave the impression that "we have one (black person on council) so that's good enough."

However, Councilwoman Ethel Conry, to whom the mayor's statement referred, said she took no offense.

"I don't think he meant it to be offensive," she said. "I really don't."

"She is a negro woman," said McDonald, a Democrat, adding that he meant no offense with the term. When asked why he didn't refer to her simply as a black woman, he said: "This isn't something that I gave any thought to. Negro is a word I believe is used commonly."

"It's not the preferred word, but I don't consider it offensive," said Charles Boddy, president of the Warren/Sussex chapter of the NAACP, of which McDonald is a member. "It certainly doesn't bear someone being called a racist."

Jim Smith, who was at the other end of the email chain with the mayor, told lehighvalleylive.com that he found it "offensive, inappropriate and completely unacceptable that the mayor of anywhere would refer to someone as a negro."

"I am African American and have no problem being referred to as black or a black male but find it offensive and disrespectful for someone, especially the mayor, to call someone a negro (and) then claim to be a NAACP member," Smith said. "I firmly believe it's indicative of the larger problem we are trying to address."

Smith, of nearby Mansfield Township, is a volunteer with a website and Facebook page critical of Warren County government, including the lack of diversity within.

The site, warrencountynj.org -- not to be confused with the official county website www.co.warren.nj.us -- encourages "freeholder reform" by voting out incumbents and increasing the three-person board's size. Smith said emails about diversity have been sent to government officials around the county.

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The emails -- provided to lehighvalleylive.com -- started Tuesday night when Smith, using an address affiliated with the website, sent a flier about diversity within county government to McDonald's official email address. The mayor the next day said the address is not for political campaigns.

Smith responded, in part:

"The lack of diversity in your administration and roster of public personnel is relevant because just as on the county level, the township is lacking sufficient levels of minority employees ... As mayor it is your duty to strive for change and implement such and as citizens ours (is) to continue to contact you to voice our grievances!"

Specifically, he criticized the racial makeup of the Washington Township Police Department, which covers the borough.

The mayor wrote back:

"Apparently, you do not know how our form of government works. ...

The police department is overseen by Washington Township, not Washington Borough. All hirings are done by them.

The Borough of Washington does employ minorities. We have many females working for us. Our library director is a women whose roots are from the middle east. We have a negro women on our governing body.

As a member of the NAACP who regularly attends local meetings, I find your accusations out of line. A dialog has started between the local NAACP and the police department, a dialog that I facilitated.

... I would strongly suggest that you do more research in the future before you make such unfounded accusations."

Smith said he was stunned by the response.

"I think Mayor McDonald should publicly apologize to the woman he was referring to and not continue in his post," Smith said Friday. "Racism cannot be tolerated nor can racial, ethnic or religious intolerance be allowed in any shape or form in government. There is just no place for it."

Conry said no apology is necessary.

"We don't know who this is coming from," she said of Smith.

Boddy, the Warren/Sussex NAACP president, said McDonald "is a good man and a faithful supporter of the NAACP and all of our actions." He encouraged Smith to reach out to the group with any grievances, noting use of the NAACP logo on Smith's website is unsanctioned.

Wheeler, in Easton, noted the mayor's statement did not contain "the other word he could have used," but suggested diversity training may be appropriate.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.