The Dracula of Free Speech, Kirk Humphreys, Rises From the Political Grave

[jamesnimmo]

Kirk Humphreys

The Dracula of Free Speech,
 Kirk Humpreys,
 Rises From the Political Grave

by James Nimmo

(OKLAHOMA CITY)  Just as the mythic Dracula of Transylvania came back from the dead to spread horror among the peasants, so has the flesh-and-blood Kirk Humphreys come back from the politically dead to fling his homophobic horror in the halls of Oklahoma City's public schools.

Reborn in the blood of his religion and bred in the dessicated dessert of intolerance, Kirk Humphreys was recently appointed by the Oklahoma City School Board to fill the position of chair until an election is held in February, 2009.

Coming above ground with his first public election to the Putnam City school board in 1987, he rose to bigger things as mayor of OKC in 1998.  He resigned during his second term to run for U. S. Senate which he lost to Dr. Tom Coburn, 25% to 61%.

Settling back into his businessman's grave of multiple real estate dealings, one would have thought that we had heard the last of Mr. Humphreys.

So why the concern regarding his reappearance?

During his time as mayor of OKC, he was the driving force behind the 2001 attempt to prevent Cimarron Alliance, a GLBT advocacy group, from exercising its First Amendment right to free speech with the display of banners promoting gay/lesbian equality.  

However, the shining light of Federal District Court Judge Robin Cauthron
exorcised the demon of Humphreys and she ruled in favor of Cimarron Alliance and enjoined the City Council from interfering with Cimarron's banner display on the utility poles.  Hitherto the sacred utility poles had been the exclusive marketplace for hetero organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, rodeos, and other civic clubs.

Did I mention the earlier "Tin Drum" video law suit?  

In 1997,  a fundamentalist censorship group ponied up with an Oklahoma County judge willing to make an informal ruling that the "Tin Drum" was child pornography and that copies of it could be seized in Oklahoma County wherever it could be found whether in private homes or public libraries.

Despite the facts that the film had been released in 1979, received major film awards, and not anyone prior to Humphreys had made a legal claim of obscenity against the film, Humphreys again smelled blood and was hot on the trail of what he thought would surely be a victory for fundamentalist decency.  Thinking that the cross of his religion would trump all blasphemers and dissolve the First and Fourth Amendments he encouraged the court case to proceed.  

Federal District Court Judge Ralph Thompson, however, found that the film is not child pornography, and went on to criticize that the County Judge, Richard Freeman, had made a serious error in judgment pertaining to what constitutes pornography and allowing the OKC police, carte blanche, to search homes and businesses without a warrant.

Both of the lost lawsuits backed by Kirk Humphreys cost hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in expenses and attorney fees which resulted in higher property taxes.  Though the "Tin Drum" adventure was publicly lead by former District Attorney Bob Macy, as mayor and the boss of the OKC police chief, I feel that Humphreys was certainly in the loop and should have had more sense and better advise in calling off the figurative police dogs.

If the past is prologue, I think we can expect some more Humphreys hauntings at the expense of the Oklahoma City taxpayers.  It's been shown that the Constitution, its Bill of Rights, and especially the First Amendment --if applied in time--can counter the poisonous vapors that waft from Humphreys.

[jamesnimmo]

Source unknown, possibly the www.Oklahoman.com



Ex-Mayor Humphreys selected school board chairman
The selection means the board will be better equipped to move ahead with the search for a superintendent, acting board chairman Al Basey said.

"As we've said before, we'd like to have the chairman in place so we can have the whole team," he said.

"There's nothing that says we can't do it fast and do it right, and that's what we're trying to do. It's very important that we get stability back into the board."

Humphreys also said stability is important.

"I think the most important thing the district needs — and it starts with the board — is stability," Humphreys said Monday night. "Excellence ... starts with the board and it starts with the superintendent and then it goes from there, but if you don't have stability and predictability then you don't have anything."

Humphreys said he is driven to see through to success what began as a project of his making.

"The reason I'm doing this is because of Maps for Kids," he said. "Our community has stepped up and said we care about this district being successful."

Board members conducted lengthy interviews with three of seven applicants for the job: Humphreys, Ret. Maj. Gen. Jay Edwards and former state Sen. Angela Monson.

The interviews were conducted in executive sessions.

In response to a previous call from Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, for the board to open the process, Basey said that the board members were elected by the people to make decisions such as this.

"All three were very, very good, and so it just becomes a factor of which one you think would fit into the structure of the board that we have and which one we thought would fit best," Basey said.

"It was a hard decision. We were very lucky that the three of them wanted to participate."

The other four people who had submitted letters of interest were The Rev. Stan Basler, Vernon Burris, Tony Laster and Isaac Samuel.

Voting power comes later

A law signed by Gov. Brad Henry last month allowed the school board to appoint someone to fill the vacancy left by Cliff Hudson in January.

Under the law, Humphreys will have input in board affairs but no voting power until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Legislators plan to adjourn May 23.

A districtwide vote on the board chairman still will be held in February as scheduled. Humphreys said he plans to run.

Kirk Humphreys

Biographical highlights: Former mayor of Oklahoma City; former school board member and president of Putnam City School Board; on board of directors of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce; current manager of Humphreys Real Estate Investments.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration in finance from the University of Oklahoma.

Excerpt from statement of interest: "I believe the customer is always right, and our customer is every family in our district with school-age children. I believe MAPS for Kids is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalize this district and we must do everything within our power to see its vision become reality."

 

[jamesnimmo]

Link to PDF of letter to Rep. Al Lindley about Humphreys' participation on
the school board -

http://newsok.com/link/2738

http://newsok.com/humphreys-takes-oklahoma-city-school-boards-reins/article/3292163

Wed September 3, 2008
Humphreys takes Oklahoma City school board's reins
By Wendy K. Kleinman
Staff Writer

Former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys took an oath Tuesday evening to
faithfully serve as chairman of the city school board.

Humphreys said he is looking forward to working with board members and with
Superintendent Karl Springer to better the district.

"The people of Oklahoma City are investing about a billion dollars into this
school district, and we need to deliver on the promise of MAPS for Kids,"
said Humphreys, who helped initiate the program.

Facing legislator's scrutiny

Humphreys filled a position vacated by Cliff Hudson at the end of John
Porter's brief time as superintendent.

The board relied on a new law to fill the chairman's vacancy, and that law
didn't take effect until Aug. 22.

Humphreys has known since May that he would serve out Hudson's term, a fact
that troubles Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, who is term-limited this
year.

"He participated behind closed doors. He talked about the superintendent
(selection) ... just like he was an actual member of the board," Lindley
said.

What does attorney general say?

(SNIP)

[jamesnimmo]

February 11, 2009


Angela Monson has defeated the Prince of Darkness for OKC School Board President.

Mr. Humphreys will be returning to his political grave for the second time with the loss of this election.  After resigning the mayor's office of Oklahoma City in his second term,  he tried to unseat Dr. Tom Coburn, another nut case, for the U. S. Senate.

Mr Humphreys lost to Dr. Tom Coburn, 25% to 61%.


With 142 of 143 precincts reporting

Monson 6,249 or 56%
Humphries 4,837 or 43%

http://tinyurl.com/aj8sap