[sankofalist]Bush replaces outspoken Civil Rights chair

[Michelle Massie]

Bush replaces outspoken Civil Rights chair

Mon Dec 6

by Terence Hunt
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Monday moved to
replace Mary Frances Berry, the outspoken chairwoman
of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission who has argued
with every president since Jimmy Carter appointed her
to the panel a quarter century ago.

But Berry balked at leaving now, arguing through a
spokesman that she and vice chairman Cruz Reynoso, who
also is being replaced, have terms that run until
midnight Jan. 21, 2005. The White House maintained
that their six-year terms expired Sunday and that
Berry and Reynoso had been replaced.

The eight-member panel investigates civil rights
complaints and publicizes its findings. It has no
enforcement power. Four years ago, Berry and the
commission were heavily critical of Florida Gov. Jeb
Bush for his administration's handling of the disputed
presidential election won by his brother.

The newly named commissioners are Gerald A. Reynolds,
former assistant secretary for the office of civil
rights in the Education Department, and attorney
Ashley L. Taylor of Richmond, Va. Bush intends to
designate Reynolds the commission chairman, succeeding
Berry, and to name Abigail Thernstrom, already a
commission member, as vice chairperson.

Berry, a civil rights history professor at the
University of Pennsylvania, is no stranger to
controversy.

"If we don't have people irritated, we're not doing
our job," Berry said in an Associated Press interview
in 2001. "We're the gadfly. We're the watchdog that
bites you on the leg, keeps tugging at you and says,
`How about this?'"

Considered a hero of the civil rights community by
some people, Berry is viewed by others as too
opinionated and divisive to accomplish much. "I'm not
trying to curry favor with anyone," she said in the
interview.

White House spokeswoman Erin Healy said the
administration considered the matter closed.

"We thank the commission members for their service,"
she said. "Their terms have expired and we have
appointed new commission members."

Reynolds is assistant general counsel for Great Plains
Energy Inc. in Kansas City, Mo. In addition to serving
in the Education Department under Bush, Reynolds was
deputy associate attorney general providing legal
advice for civil litigation matters.

Berry has criticized every president since Carter, who
appointed her and later drew pressure from her over
the levels of financial aid for the poor. President
Reagan fired her but had to reinstate her after a
lawsuit. Former Presidents Bush and Clinton weren't
spared her criticism, either.

Bush also replaced the commission's staff director,
Les Jin, with Kenneth Marcus of Virginia. Jin said
Berry's and Reynoso's tenure dispute stems from a
disagreement with the White House about when they
began serving their six-year terms.

"The commission has had a long history of independence
and of trying to protect civil rights," Jin said. "And
it just seems like we would have been much better
served if they (the White House) had tried to take the
initiative to engage in a conversation about a smooth
transition rather than try to heighten a battle over
six weeks."


		
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