State Parks Chief Under Fire Over Race Bias Charges

Gov. George Deukmejian said Tuesday that his Administration is investigating charges that state Parks Director William Briner “openly and routinely” used racist language and forced his department’s highest-ranking black employee to quit her job.

Deukmejian told reporters he would take disciplinary action against Briner if the allegations, brought by investigators for the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, prove to be true. According to a report by the commission, witnesses said Briner frequently used such racist and sexist terms as “nigger, spear-chucker, nip, broad, wop and spic.”

“We are looking into those allegations,” the Republican governor said during a campaign appearance here. “We will determine whether there is a basis for the allegations and if there is a basis we would certainly take appropriate action. On the other hand, if there is no basis for it whatsoever, then obviously he would continue in his position.”

Briner said in an interview that he has formally denied all the charges against him and that he expects to be “vindicated unquestionably.” Noting that he has never been told the identity of the witnesses against him, Briner suggested that the allegations are the product of election-year politics.

The charges against Briner threaten to inject the sensitive subject of race into Deukmejian’s campaign for reelection against his Democratic rival, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

While the black mayor recently said his color should not be a “hidden issue” in the campaign, Deukmejian has repeatedly refused to discuss the role that race may play in voters’ minds Nov. 4.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began looking into the charges against Briner more than a year ago after Silvester Widemon, a former deputy director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, alleged that Briner had harassed her into quitting her job. Its findings are based largely on confidential interviews with department employees.

“The commission concludes there is reasonable cause to believe that charging party (Widemon) was subjected to harassment . . . because of her race and sex,” according to the agency report completed in September.

The commission also said: “Witnesses state that the director openly and routinely used racist and sexist terms when referring to minorities and women. These terms included nigger, spear-chucker, nip, broad, wop and spic. He also made other discriminatory jokes and statements and is said to have referred to the charging party (Widemon) as ‘it.’ ”

Commission officials would not discuss the findings but said the agency is seeking to settle the case with Briner. Forms the settlement might take include reinstating Widemon or awarding her a sum of money. If a successful settlement cannot be reached, the commission is prepared to take Briner to court.

Briner has long been followed by charges of racism. In 1984, the Senate Rules Committee delayed his confirmation as director of parks and recreation after similar allegations surfaced. Briner won the committee’s approval only after he apologized to those who might have been offended by remarks they considered to be ethnic slurs.

Briner called the latest charges “a retread of allegations that were totally dismissed two or three years ago.”

“I have never been able to find out who is making these allegations and find out what is alleged that I said,” he said. “I have never been given the opportunity to face my accusers.”

Briner said the charges may have been motivated by disgruntled employees. “I’m sure I have stepped on toes,” he said. “There are people who don’t like me, obviously. This is an election year and we’re in the last 30 days.”

Briner’s lawyer, Deputy Atty. Gen. Charles Getz, said Briner is not guilty of any racial discrimination and likened the federal commission’s proceedings against Briner to a star-chamber.

At the same time, Getz said Briner has acknowledged using terms that might better have been left unsaid, including referring to one woman as a “broad.”

“Mr. Briner has been very candid. He said some dumb things,” Getz said.

Deukmejian told reporters that when Widemon first filed her complaint more than a year ago, the Administration looked into the matter. Briner denied the charges at that time, the governor said.

The Administration’s latest investigation began several weeks ago and will be completed shortly, Deukmejian said.

“We will, as soon as that is completed, make a decision,” he said.