John Wiley Price
Encyclopedia
John Wiley Price is a politician in Dallas, Texas
and was the first black elected to the Commissioners Court in Dallas. He has been the Dallas County Commissioner
for District 3 since January 1, 1985. He campaigns as "Our Man Downtown".
area, and several jurors reported to have received threatening phones calls during the trial. Among many other instances, Price received national media attention when he took offense at the use of the term "black hole
" by a fellow commissioner. His words were lampooned repeatedly by the media and radio talk show hosts including Rush Limbaugh
Price again made headlines when he launched a profanity-laced tirade at a December 2009 Dallas County Commissioner's Court meeting over the ongoing investigation of impropriety among Dallas Constables. Price repeatedly pounded on the desk in front of him and responded to a call from County Judge Jim Foster for order by declaring that Foster should "Make me come to order!"
In February 2011 Price got into a shouting match with Dallas lawyer Jeff Turner at a Dallas county commissioner's meeting. Turner repeatedly called Price a 'Chief Mullah' and 'tribal', terms that that Price took offense to and led him to ask Turner to speak to him in private. Price later stated that he interpreted "Mullah" as "Moolah", similar to the racial epithet "Moulie". The public confrontation resulted in a shouting match before Price asked out loud why all the speakers were white. When an audience member shouted "You’ve asked respect of us. We demand respect from you," Price said "All of you are white. Go to hell". Price then headed for the exit and challenged the protesters to follow him and continue the discussion outside. At this point security personnel ordered the court to be cleared.
"The search warrants served on Commissioner Price’s home and office, as well as his two associates, indicate the FBI is looking for evidence of tax evasion, bribery, money laundering, fraud and more."
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and was the first black elected to the Commissioners Court in Dallas. He has been the Dallas County Commissioner
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
for District 3 since January 1, 1985. He campaigns as "Our Man Downtown".
Political career
Price has aroused local controversy during his time in office. During the 1980s and 1990s Price would lead protests for racial issues in the Dallas area. In 1991 during a protest, Price was accused of breaking the ankle of a white construction worker. In May 1992, Price was found not guilty of felony assault charges from the incident. The verdict was rendered just days after the Rodney King riots in the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, and several jurors reported to have received threatening phones calls during the trial. Among many other instances, Price received national media attention when he took offense at the use of the term "black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
" by a fellow commissioner. His words were lampooned repeatedly by the media and radio talk show hosts including Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
Price again made headlines when he launched a profanity-laced tirade at a December 2009 Dallas County Commissioner's Court meeting over the ongoing investigation of impropriety among Dallas Constables. Price repeatedly pounded on the desk in front of him and responded to a call from County Judge Jim Foster for order by declaring that Foster should "Make me come to order!"
In February 2011 Price got into a shouting match with Dallas lawyer Jeff Turner at a Dallas county commissioner's meeting. Turner repeatedly called Price a 'Chief Mullah' and 'tribal', terms that that Price took offense to and led him to ask Turner to speak to him in private. Price later stated that he interpreted "Mullah" as "Moolah", similar to the racial epithet "Moulie". The public confrontation resulted in a shouting match before Price asked out loud why all the speakers were white. When an audience member shouted "You’ve asked respect of us. We demand respect from you," Price said "All of you are white. Go to hell". Price then headed for the exit and challenged the protesters to follow him and continue the discussion outside. At this point security personnel ordered the court to be cleared.
Investigations
Price is currently being investigated by the FBI."The search warrants served on Commissioner Price’s home and office, as well as his two associates, indicate the FBI is looking for evidence of tax evasion, bribery, money laundering, fraud and more."