Augusta Housing Authority member Dave Barbee has resigned from the board after two weeks of political turmoil prompted by his controversial e-mail that many considered racially offensive.

Mr. Barbee voluntarily submitted his resignation to Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver after meeting for almost two hours Sunday with the mayor and the authority's chairman.

Mr. Barbee said Monday his work with the housing authority was done, and that he would say nothing else.

Mr. Barbee has apologized repeatedly for what he called his "poorly worded" e-mail to developer brothers Clay and Braye Boardman.

He stated in the e-mail that the evacuation of the Gilbert Manor housing project to make room for expansion of the Medical College of Georgia, coupled with planned upscale downtown condominium developments, would increase the white population in the area.

The e-mail was leaked and state Sen. Ed Tarver sent it to the mayor suggesting he ask for Mr. Barbee's resignation, which the mayor immediately did.

In a Monday news release, Mr. Copenhaver said, "I understand that Mr. Barbee has served faithfully as a commissioner on the board for two years.

"He has expressed to me his sincere regret for the inappropriate wording of his recent e-mail. He apologizes to anyone in the Augusta community that he may have inadvertently offended. I have accepted his apology and with God's help, may we forgive and move forward as a community of trust and hope."