City Councilman Mike Knox has fired staffer Trebor Gordon, he announced Wednesday, a month after Gordon tried to block the appointment of a Harris County Republican precinct chair because he is Muslim.

Knox called Gordon's comments "incendiary" and "unfortunate" at the time but did not originally intend to fire him.

The councilman changed his mind, however, citing concerns about Gordon's ability to carry out his job duties. Gordon made $55,000 a year as Knox's community outreach director. His termination was effective Monday.

"It became clear at a certain point that he was going to be unable to function, that some of his decisions ... have interfered with our ability to perform our job as a council representative," Knox said.

Knox declined to comment on what those decisions were, saying he was unwilling to discuss internal personnel matters.

"I know that many people wanted this to happen much quicker, but we want to make sure that we follow the existing process," Knox said.

Gordon did not return a request for comment.

Knox's announcement comes a day after several community members expressed concern at City Council over the councilman's past decisions, including keeping Gordon on staff for a month and attending a May rally protesting Target's new bathroom policy.

Target in April said it would allow transgender employees and customers to use the bathroom or fitting room consistent with their gender identity.

"Council Member Knox, I'm here today because of hateful rhetoric made by those you surround yourself with. The rhetoric made by people you call friends and employees is not only hurtful to the communities they are targeting but outright dangerous," said Caroline Giese, who teaches middle school in Sunnyside.

The same citizens criticized Knox for leaving council at the beginning of the public comment period.

Knox said he left to deal with "an important family matter."

"I can say that I am sensitive to the concerns of the community in general and of the Muslim community in particular," he said.

Knox also noted his opposition to Houston's defeated equal rights ordinance, which would have protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.