Letter: Assemblyman shows lack of good judgment

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 9:46 a.m.

Shamefully, that is exactly what Assemblyman Wendell Williams did before a packed boardroom at the School Board meeting of July 27. Williams, in no uncertain terms, threatened legislative action against the Clark County School District.

Williams' threat was made in reference to remarks made by Superintendent Carlos Garcia in response to a question from a black student during a taped meeting during which Garcia used the N-word to make a strong statement against racism. Garcia has since apologized several times in writing and verbally for his choice of words in attempting to illustrate his zero tolerance for racism.

Unfortunately, because Williams serves as the chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, his unveiled threat to use his public office to punish Nevada's largest school district -- and the 200,000-plus students who attend schools in Clark County -- exhibited not only poor judgment but a blatant arrogance and disregard for his public oath of office.

Were I serving in the Nevada Legislature I would give serious consideration to initiating a move to censure Williams for his lack of good judgment and careless words.

Ironically, Williams' reason for speaking that evening was to chastise Garcia for his admitted poor judgment in using the N-word. Hopefully, after seeing his own words in print, Williams will chastise himself for his own poor judgment in threatening the educational welfare of students in Clark County.

Williams, like all elected officials, was elected to serve all of the people of his district and this state.

To refresh his memory, that includes whites, Hispanics, Asians, Native-Americans and African-Americans. Please remember that, Mr. Williams.

THOMAS RODRIGUEZ

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