Maryville (WVLT) – The mayor of Blount County is catching some heat after comments he made in a letter about a cultural exchange program with Russia.

The mayor initially expressed dissatisfaction with the organization giving a tour of the county courthouse to a Russian delegation.

He then went into his own personal views of the country and its people.

Although written on county letterhead, Mayor Jerry Cunningham says he has no comment, except to say it was a private, personal letter.

According to the letter, the mayor was troubled by the late scheduling of a Russian delegation to the Blount County courthouse.

That promoted Mayor Cunningham to write the letter to Alcoa assistant manager Bill Hammon in which he expressed his displeasure with what had happened.

But he soon began expressing his personal thoughts.

In the letter to Hammon, Cunningham wrote, "they are competing with our kids for jobs....we need to take care of our kids first when it comes to jobs. The Russians, as far as I am concerned, can do likewise. Enough is enough."

"It certainly doesn't express how I feel about what's going on in Blount County," said Wendy Pitts Reeves, a Blount County Commissioner.

Soon the comments were drawing concern from some commissioners of a body that participates in the Sister City program.

Sister City’s goal is to bring Russians to the area.

Likewise, the content of the letter is drawing public concern as well.

"I think that he needs to worry more about other people than the Russians coming over and taking our jobs," said Brandy Shamoon, a Blount County resident who disagrees with the mayor.

Cunningham’s letter went on to say "I personally, along with many others, am very disturbed by what is going on in Russia right now. ”Putin is simply old line KGB."

"I think it's not fair to those visitors to judge them about their present national leader," said Dr. Bob Proffitt, a Blount County Commissioner.

In addition, Cunningham wrote, "also, I have trouble forgetting close buddies of mine who were killed by Russian armament in a forgotten place called Vietnam."

But more than thirty years after the war, one commissioner said things have changed.

As our world becomes a more globalized economy, with the way things are going in this community, we need that kind of input," said Reeves.

Another commissioner feels the mayor is supportive of the program.

"I probably wouldn't have said it like that, but I highly respect the mayor and his use of the language," said Dr. Robert Ramsey.

"I think for our mayor to say something like that, is outrageous," said Shamoon.

And some are concerned about the letter’s lasting impact.

"They too, I think, will be a little bit confused, wondering what efforts are we really making to get along,” said Dr. Proffitt.

You can read the two page letter by clicking on the Hot Key.