Connerly leaves with parting warning: Don't consider race

By: MICHELLE LOCKE - Associated Press | Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:43 PM PST ∞

SAN FRANCISCO -- University of California Regent Ward Connerly completed his term with a final plea to fellow board members: Don't bring back affirmative action admissions. "There will be a great temptation ... for you to relax your attitude about the use of race," Connerly said in his parting remarks Thursday. "For God's sake, don't do it."

Connerly, 65, is best known for dismantling UC's old affirmative action system and going on to chair a state ballot initiative, Proposition 209, that dismantled similar programs in public hiring, contracting and education.

His next battleground is Michigan, where he and others recently announced they believe they have enough signatures to get a constitutional amendment similar to Prop. 209 on the November 2006 ballot.

During his 12 years as a regent, Connerly was a catalyst for conflict. He was praised by supporters as a civil rights hero, denounced by others as a sellout.

Even Thursday, some opponents appeared at the public comment portion of the meeting to cheer Connerly's going.

But board members were uniformly celebratory.

Regent Peter Preuss, a frequent ally, praised Connerly for his "delightful demeanor, even temperament and good humor."

He noted that regents have introduced 57 items since 1995, and 22 of them were sponsored or co-sponsored by Connerly.

Some of those issues led to tense times, Preuss conceded, "but is a board which would shy away from tense times really doing its job?"

As is customary, regents feted Connerly with a standing ovation.

When it was Connerly's turn to speak, his voice appeared to quiver with emotion as he recounted highs and lows of what he jokingly referred to as "my 12-year sentence."

"There have been times when I've been pretty tough on the university, but it's out of love," he said.

"I'm profoundly grateful for your generosity of spirit, the comfort that you've given me in moments that were not so pleasant," Connerly said. "As I approach this end of the road, I am very grateful for the experience of being one of your colleagues."

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