Racial remarks jeopardize Texas official's job
By John Moritz
Star-Telegram Austin bureau
AUSTIN -- The job of Texas' top health official is in jeopardy for making rambling references to "lynchings" and a humble black "washerwoman" in a talk with an African-American aide who feared being fired, a spokeswoman for Gov. George W. Bush said Wednesday.
It was the latest in a series of remarks with racial or ethnic overtones by Health Commissioner William "Reyn" Archer III that have stirred public outcry and embarrassed Bush, the Republican presidential nominee, who appointed him.
Archer has no plans to resign. In a written statement, he criticized the aide for releasing the conversation, but did not challenge the accuracy of what she said. He declined to discuss specifics of their talk, which the aide secretly recorded in February. Such taping does not violate Texas law.
"From what he has read in a newspaper article, Governor Bush believes this was an inappropriate conversation for a supervisor to have with an employee," said Linda Edwards, the governor's press secretary.
"The Board of Health and the Health and Human Services commissioner are already in the midst of a personnel evaluation to determine whether Dr. Archer can continue to lead the agency effectively and with credibility after a series of inappropriate remarks," Edwards said.
Archer's remarks were recorded by an associate commissioner, Dr. Demetria Montgomery, who requested the meeting out of fear that she was about to be fired.
Montgomery was dismissed from the agency last month, and this week she filed a grievance with the Texas Commission on Human Rights alleging sexual and racial discrimination.
OBVIOUSLY ONE OF BUSH"S BETTER APPOINTEES! |
