CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mecklenburg County commissioner Dan Ramirez said he promised voters he wouldn't use his elected position to discuss personal issues.

But he broke from that stance this week to publicly criticize fellow Republican Bill James for comments made last month in which James compared illegal immigrants to prostitutes and drug dealers.

Ramirez said James managed to insult the entire immigrant community, including those in the country legally.

"I personally feel very offended by that," said Ramirez, a native of Colombia who emigrated to the United States more than three decades ago.

Ramirez's comments came late in Tuesday's commissioners meeting during a discussion about whether the county should use a federal database to screen the worker status of all newly hired county employees. Commissioners approved the plan.

In April, commissioners debated requiring county contractors and sub-contractors to use the same program, known as E-verify.

Toward the end of the talk, commissioner Norman Mitchell discussed an Observer article that mentioned illegal immigrants paid taxes. James interrupted, saying prostitutes and drug dealers also pay taxes.

The comments drew fierce backlash from members of the local Hispanic community, and were even picked up in a leading Mexico City newspaper.

Some Hispanic residents wanted Ramirez to speak out earlier against James' comments, said Maudia Melendez, leader of Jesus Ministry. She said Ramirez has been criticized for wanting to represent the entire community and shying away from pressure to advocate only for Hispanic issues.

Melendez praised Ramirez for confronting James at the commissioners meeting.

The exchange among the commissioners this week was emotional at times, as Ramirez talked of growing up and his father telling him to stand up for issues important to him and the community.

James said he has been surprised at the reaction to the April comments, but won't apologize for what was said. He said he meant to show that illegal immigrants, prostitutes and drug dealers all are breaking the law.

James said he was surprised by Ramirez's statements Tuesday, adding he thinks his colleague violated board rules by making his comments during the policy discussion.

He also said he didn't mean to cause Ramirez or his family any angst, and wished Ramirez had called him to discuss his concerns.

Ramirez said he felt it was important to respond at a meeting.

On Wednesday, neither commissioner said they'd hold any grudge against the other.

"It's not going to be an issue that is going to linger," Ramirez said. "I will move on, I will work with him on the issues that are important to the community."

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