Texas Health Chief Quits Under Fire

Texas' health commissioner resigned Monday after being accused of making racially insensitive comments to a black former employee.

William "Reyn" Archer III, 46, whose 1997 appointment was approved by Gov. George W. Bush, had taken heavy criticism during the past year from minority groups over comments he made about Hispanics and blacks.

Bush had supported Archer during past controversies. But last week, Bush pulled back his support, calling Archer's latest comments "inappropriate." Archer is the son of Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

Dr. Demetria Montgomery, who was a top-level administrator in the state's health department before she was fired last month, secretly tape-recorded a February meeting with Archer.

On the tape, Archer can be heard making references to "lynching" and suggesting Montgomery used her brain to advance her career and "that's what white people do."

A man who answered the phone at Archer's home on Monday said that Archer was unavailable for comment.

The health department's governing board had suspended Archer with pay on Thursday. Archer was already undergoing an annual performance review when Montgomery filed her complaint, officials said. Dr. Charles Bell, the health department's executive deputy commissioner, is serving as interim director.

Board chairman J.C. Chambers said Archer was not pressured by the board to resign. Chambers said Archer called him Monday morning to tell him of his decision.

"It was his choice," Chambers said. "I'm sad. I think Dr. Archer did a great job as health commissioner. He made some mistakes and it made it hard."

Bush's office said the governor "respects" Archer's decision and credited him with reducing the tuberculosis rate and infant mortality during his three-year term.

"Governor Bush thanks Dr. Archer for his dedicated service to the people of Texas," said Bush spokeswoman Linda Edwards.

A licensed gynecologist and obstetrician, Archer angered Hispanics in April when he was quoted in news reports saying that Hispanic teen-agers "want to be pregnant." State Democratic lawmakers called for his firing - and Archer apologized for the remarks.

Shortly afterward, The Houston Chronicle reported that Archer had made similar statements about blacks in 1998.

But it was Montgomery's tape recording that triggered a new avalanche of criticism that forced Archer to resign.

Fearing she was going to be fired, Montgomery had gone to Archer to discuss her job performance.

Archer can be heard referring several times to Montgomery's race and said, "you are fair (skinned) as a black woman, you get certain privileges in white culture that others don't get for that."

Archer also suggested that she had her brains instead of her heart to advance her career and "that's what white people do."

In a prepared statement released last wee, Archer said he was disappointed the tape was made public.

"She invited me to talk about her job problems in a wide-ranging and reflective way," Archer said.

"It saddens me to learn that Dr. Montgomery is now attempting to use parts of our conversation, a personal conversation that she requested and secretly recorded, to support a legal action against the state of Texas," Archer said.

Republican Lt. Gov. Rick Perry, who would replace Bush if the governor wins the presidency, said last week that Archer could not effectively lead his agency.

"I don't know anyone that condones his statements or how he handled that," Perry said last week. "I think his ability to do the job has been compromised greatly."