Dennis DeWitt, head of the community affairs department of Bee County, announced today (Wednesday) that he will retire from his position effective at 5 p.m. Thursday.

DeWitt is currently the subject of an investigation by the commissioners court after allegations surfaced accusing him of using the racial slurs “Mexican” and “wetback” in his dealings with at least two people.

“The reason for my retirement is to alleviate the creation of obstacles in my political campaign for commissioner (of) Precinct 2,” DeWitt wrote in his retirement letter to County Judge David Silva.

DeWitt beat incumbent Susan Stasny during the Republican primary election and does not have an opponent in November.

“The current Bee County commissioners have created a hostile work environment, therefore, constructive termination for me,” DeWitt wrote. “The taxpayers of Bee County deserve better of their commissioners than to allow them to expend taxpayer dollars and countless hours of Bee County staff time in an effort to intimidate, harass and retaliate against a county employee who fairly defeated an incumbent commissioner in a political contest.”