Letter to the Editor – An apology to the Yountville Community
Dear Community,
Please find a statement I’ll be making at next week’s Council meeting. I feel it’s important to share this publicly now, because I believe in owning up to my mistakes. I made one during the May 5th Council meeting, and I want to offer a sincere public apology — first to Chef Thomas Keller, and also to the residents of Yountville who were disappointed by my comments during the May 5 Council meeting. I have already apologized to Chef Keller personally, and now I want to apologize to this community.
You are right to expect better from me. As Council members, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard, and my words fell short of that standard. The moment they left my mouth, I regretted them. Words matter — in life, in relationships, and certainly in leadership — and once spoken, they cannot be taken back.
What I can do is reflect honestly on how that happened, learn from it, and commit myself to doing better moving forward. I also want to apologize to my fellow Council members. Regardless of disagreement or tension, we must conduct ourselves in a way that reflects positively on this governing body and the community we serve. I am sorry I let you down.
Public service requires humility, accountability and the willingness to own mistakes when we make them. So, I accept responsibility for mine. To those willing to move forward in a spirit of community and civility, I again offer my apology. To those who remain upset with me, I will respect your feelings, and I am willing to listen. I was elected to listen, to serve, and to lead with integrity. As long as I hold this seat, I will continue striving to do exactly that and will hold myself to a higher standard moving forward.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Robin McKee
Member Yountville Town Council
Sponsored
Author
