Carmel Mayor Steve Dallas issues an apology following an investigation into his conduct.

On the night of Thursday, March 15, Carmel Mayor Steve Dallas issued a "sincere and heartfelt" public apology to Carmel—and anyone who was "hurt or offended" by his behavior.

"To the citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and to those individuals I may have hurt or offended, I am truly sorry. Please know my comments were not maliciously uttered, but I admit they were very much ill-considered, insensitive and unprofessional," Dallas writes in a statement emailed to the Weekly.

He also states he is "truly sorry that my family has had to go through this painful time."

Dallas' behavior was investigated for three months after a complaint was lodged by Kim Stemler, executive director of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, that Dallas made highly sexualized comments to her at public events over a four-year period. 

At a special meeting and press conference held by the Carmel City Council on March 7, City Attorney Glen Mozingo confirmed some of the allegations by Stemler and others interviewed by the investigator were "sustained," but did not leave the city civilly or criminally liable for Dallas' behavior.

Dallas did not sexually harass anyone, Mozingo said.

Three members of the council—Mayor Pro Tem Carrie Theis, and council members Carolyn Hardy and Jan Reimers—said they reprimanded Dallas and asked him to improve his behavior, but stopped short of asking him to resign, although that was an option they considered.

Dallas mentioned the "three remarkable and courageous" women, "who were put in the eye of the storm by my comments, and who handled the entire matter for our village with integrity and strength." (A fourth councilmember, Bobby Richards, was recused from the proceedings.)

Theis confirmed during the meeting that this was not the first time she had talked to Dallas about his behavior, saying she had a personal conversation with him in the past.

Dallas ended his four-paragraph apology pledging to "work even harder to regain the trust," of Carmelites.

"I have learned a painful life lesson from this episode, and pledge to be a better person and a better mayor," he writes. 

His entire written apology is printed below:

To all in our community:

As mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and a long-time resident who loves this city as much as anyone, I would like to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology to everyone for my inappropriate conduct — conduct that led to a months-long investigation and culminated on March 7 with a reprimand from Carmel-by-the-Sea’s three strong women on the city council with whom I serve.

As those of you who have followed these events know, I was precluded until now from making any comment related to the ongoing investigation. For that reason, this apology is late in

coming, but I hope you will accept it nonetheless. To the citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and to those individuals I may have hurt or offended, I am truly sorry. Please know my comments were not maliciously uttered, but I admit they were very much ill-considered, insensitive and unprofessional. I am also truly sorry that my family has had to go through this painful time.

Additionally, I apologize to the three remarkable and courageous council members — Carrie Theis, Jan Reimers and Carolyn Hardy — who were put in the eye of the storm by my comments, and who handled the entire matter for our village with integrity and strength.

I was born and raised in Carmel-by-the-Sea and, like my family, love and honor its special sense of place and spirit. I pledge to work even harder to regain the trust of its citizens and to do my very best for our beloved village. I have learned a painful life lesson from this episode, and pledge to be a better person and a better Mayor.

From the bottom of my heart, I apologize.

Steve G. Dallas, Mayor

Carmel-by-the-Sea