Politics & Government

Arlington County Board Chair Apologizes for 'Latino Time' Comment

Jay Fisette joked that fellow board member Walter Tejada was late to John Vihstadt's swearing-in ceremony Friday because he was on 'Latino time.'

Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette on Saturday apologized for a comment he made Friday, saying that fellow board member Walter Tejada was late to a ceremony because he was on "Latino time."

The ceremony was the swearing-in of John Vihstadt on Friday; Vihstadt won a special election to the board on Tuesday.

At Saturday's meeting, after welcoming Vihstadt, Fisette said: "Yesterday we had a nice swearing in...I want to make a quick mea culpa. Yesterday in this room I made a light-hearted attempt at humor. Asking some friends afterward, I discovered some were offended. Please accept my apologies. No disrespect was meant or felt. OK. Live and learn."

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Fisette made his apology at the start of the Saturday meeting of the board, with Tejada seated to his right. 

Born in El Salvador, Tejada moved to the United States at the age of 13. He studied Government and Communication at George Mason University and has worked as an investigator, a business consultant and as an aide to Congressman Jim Moran before his public service to Arlington. He was elected to the county board in 2003 and chaired the board in 2008 and 2013.

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