A Douglas County Republican commission chair caught on tape making disparaging comments about black candidates lost his bid for reelection Tuesday to his Democratic challenger—a black woman.

Romona Jackson-Jones beat Tom Worthan with a healthy majority.

Worthan, who has been elected to the county commissioner five times and commission chairman three, was forced to apologize in September after he was secretly recorded at a public county festival.

In that tape, Worthan could be heard saying that governments run by blacks “bankrupt you,” and that if African-American sheriff candidate Tim Pounds were elected, “he would put a bunch of blacks in leadership positions” they may not be qualified for.

After the tape surfaced, Worthan went on Fox 5 Atlanta and apologized.

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The Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival takes place Saturday beginning at The King Center and ending at Piedmont Park. Due to sponsorship difficulties, the event was shortened from three days to two this year. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman