As a way of explaining why he made no promises during his campaign for office, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong told what two ommissioners considered a socially unacceptable “story” during his state of the county address about a supposed friend, a light blue Cadillac convertible and a “blonde.”

The Press contacted Armstrong, a Democrat, for comment on his “story,” and the reaction of the two Republican Lehigh County commissioners when they heard what he had said.

Armstrong replied to The Press’ question via email on Feb. 26.

“I’m deeply sorry to anyone who took offense to the story which was told during my state of the county address,” Armstrong wrote. “I recognize that comments and actions have tremendous power, and it is our responsibility as elected leaders to acknowledge how they can often make others feel diminished or marginalized.

“The purpose of my story was intended to demonstrate that many often make grandiose promises in order to achieve an objective or goal, and I have strived never to be that kind of individual.

“I made my remarks without any deliberative desire to be malicious or demeaning, but thoroughly recognize the validity of criticism towards those remarks.

“As an elected official, it’s important that those who took any offense or felt in anyway deprived of value or equity, understand that I acknowledge and take to heart those feelings.

“As county executive, I realize that I’m not above criticism or error and therefore must be open to public critique and comment. I must also change and evolve in response to it.

“I take this moment to affirm my commitment to continually improving my self-awareness and consciousness towards the impact my future statements can have on others.

“I will continue to serve my constituents irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.

“The public will always be the ultimate check on my power and actions, and I will always remain subject to them.”

The story, which may have been socially acceptable in the 1950s was not well received by his audience and, in particular, by Commissioners Marty Nothstein and Nathan Brown in this era of the #MeToo movement.

Nothstein and Brown emailed their response to The Press on Feb. 22, a day after the state of the county address at Coca-Cola Park.

“We are disappointed that the county executive chose to include his ‘joke’ in a serious discussion of county government. This government deals with the very real issues of life - issues like drug addiction, crime and punishment, child welfare and care of the aging to name a few.

“Telling a ‘joke’ that characterizes a woman as an ‘option’ to a car has no place in county business.

“As he told the ‘joke,’ he noted that people in the audience were signaling him not to continue. He should have listened.”