By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Amherst Supervisor-elect Satish Mohan and Council member Bill Kindel have cleared the air. Both met Wednesday to discuss a comment made at a recent town board meeting.
Mohan tells WBFO News they did not apologize to one another. But he accepted Kindel's explanation that a remark he made was not intended to be racist. Just over a week ago, Kindel told Mohan there are "rules in this country" as Mohan tried to speak at an Amherst Town Board meeting. Mohan thought it was a racist remark and wanted a public apology. But then Kindel received negative calls and e-mails, and he demanded an apology. Both men met Wednesday to talk about the comment. Mohan says after speaking with Kindel he truly believes he was not being racist.
"So I take it to be true. It is his intent that matters," Mohan said. "We both decided we have greater issues and need to go forward. People have elected to serve the town and once I accepted that wasn't his intent, we said okay, let's go forward."
Mohan invited Kindel and his wife at his home for lunch. Kindel says he is pleased with the outcome of their meeting.
"We want this to come to an end It doesn't have any purpose or foundation. I have nothing but respect for him. He is a very honorable man, and we love his wife. I know he feels the same about my family," Kindel said. "So, I'm looking forward to working with him, and we can do a lot of good together."
Kindel tells us he previously apologized in private to Mohan. He says he believes his comments were taken out of context. Mohan says he and Kindel consider each other as friends and have put their differences behind them.
Mohan defeated Susan Gerlick this past November and will be sworn in as town supervisor this Sunday.