Fla. County Chairwoman Apologizes for Use of ‘Jewing’

The chairwoman of a board of commissioners in Franklin County, Fla., said she apologized to those who questioned her for using the word “jewing” to describe salary discussions at a public meeting.

Cheryl Sanders told Jim Romenesko, who runs an eponymous news business blog, that her use of the word at a July 2 meeting had “been blown out of proportion.” She would not share with Romenesko the email she sent that included the apology, he reported Monday on his blog.

A July 10 account of the meeting published on ApalachicolaTimes.com reported that the board of commissioners in a 3-2 vote to name Howard Nabors to head the Florida Panhandle county’s roads department even though he does not have a high school degree.

An argument ensued over whether Nabors deserved a $45,000 salary, which Sanders had proposed.

“Today’s not the day to do it,” the Times quoted Sanders as saying. “We’re here [for Nabors’ salary], not to be up here jewing over somebody’s pay. I can’t believe that you all would put a man down who has worked here for 26 years because he don’t have a high school education.”