Official Steps Down Over Racial Remarks

Texas’ health commissioner resigned in Austin after being accused of making racially insensitive comments to a former black employee. William “Reyn” Archer III, 46, whose 1997 appointment by the Health and Human Services Department’s governing board had been approved by Gov. George W. Bush, had taken heavy criticism in the past year from minority groups over comments he made about Latinos and blacks. Bush had supported Archer through his previous controversies but pulled back last week, calling Archer’s latest comments “inappropriate.” Dr. Demetria Montgomery, who was a top-level administrator in the agency before she was fired last month, had secretly taped a February meeting with Archer, who is white.