ASPEN — Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Director Tom McCabe was out of line when he criticized an affordable housing proposal by mayoral candidate Tim Semrau, according to a press release from the city of Aspen.

In a March 15 story in The Aspen Times, McCabe — a former city councilman — took issue with Semrau's proposal to raise appreciation caps on affordable housing units.

A statement from Assistant City Manager Bentley Henderson on Tuesday said McCabe misstated certain facts and should not have weighed in on a political campaign issue.

The text of Henderson's statement follows:

"Comments made in a March 15 article in The Aspen Times by Tom McCabe, Director of the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority, were not intended to challenge, refute, or dismiss Tim Semrau's proposed policies for the future use of affordable housing funds. Comments made by the Housing Director with regard to losing units, alternative uses of funds, and projections as to availability of funds which may have contradicted a political position should not have been made by a city employee. Some of the statements made by Mr. McCabe misstated the facts and the city regrets any misinformation. The city further acknowledges that statements regarding the annual revenue of the city's housing fund were incorrectly attributed to Mr. Semrau. City of Aspen employees, in their professional capacity, may not advocate for or against a ballot issue, support or oppose candidates for office, or support or oppose proposals made by candidates."