Russell M. Perry
Encyclopedia
Russell M. Perry is an American businessman, banker, publisher and broadcast from Oklahoma
. Perry served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce
from 1999 to 2000, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
. Perry was the first African American to hold that position. After being nominated by Keating, Perry was never confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate
. Perry's appointment became a central issue in the 2001 Oklahoma Supreme Court
case Keating v. Edmondson
.
in 1979, a statewide newspaper based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
that focuses on the African community in Oklahoma. At the same time, Perry founded and become the President of Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company
, which is a print media, cable television
and radio broadcasting corporation. Perry Publishing owns radio stations KVSP
in Oklahoma City, KJMM
in Tulsa
, and KKRX
in Lawton
.
Perry would later come to own the controlling interest in First Security Bank of Oklahoma City.
, Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
appointed Perry to serve as his third Secretary of Commerce
, making Perry the first African American to ever serve in that position.
Perry serve as Secretary in a unconfirmed basis while his Governor Keating sent his nomination to the Oklahoma Senate
. Initially Perry's nomination was set to be heard by Senate Economic Development Committee, where the nominations of Dean Werries
, Ron Rosenfeld
and Howard Barnett, Jr.
(Keating's former Secretaries of Commerce) had been heard. However, President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
Stratton Taylor (at the request of State Senator Angela Monson) transferred his nomination to the Senate Finance Committee, which Senator Monson chaired. Though 10 members of the 15 member committee favored Perry's appointment, Senator Monson blocked the nomination by never allowing it to be heard before the Finance Committee. Ultimately, the Oklahoma Senate
adjourned without ever hearing Perry's nomination.
Governor Keating and Perry claimed that the reason Perry's nomination was not heard was because he was a conservative Republican
African American. They claimed that the move was done at the request of the Legislative Black Caucus, all member of which were Democrats
. Senator Monson, however, said that Perry's salary as Commerce Secretary would cost the State too much and be duplicative.
On June 8, 2000, Senator Monson submitted a request for an official opinion to Attorney General of Oklahoma
Drew Edmondson
concerning Keating's actions. Edmondson issued Attorney General Opinion 2000-54 on October 26, 2000, in which Edmondson found Keating's actions against the provisions of the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
. Governor Keating then filed a petition on October 27, 2000, in Oklahoma County District Court to overturn Edmondson's opinion. After hearing oral arguments, the trial judge upheld the Attorney General's opinion.
On December 29, 2000, Keating appealed a single issue - whether a Governor is empowered to reorganize the executive Cabinet throughout the term of office. The appeal was sent to the Oklahoma Supreme Court
for consideration.
In May, 2001, Keating withdraw Perry's nomination for consideration as Economic Development Secretary and instead appointed Perry as his Special Adviser for Economic Development, which is a non-cabinet level post.
on December 4, 2001. In a unanimous decision, the Court rejected the Governor's appeal and upheld Edmondson's opinion. Chief Justice Rudolph Hargrave
authored the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Watt, Hodges, Lavender, Opala, Kauger, Summers, and Boudreau. Justice Winchester wrote a concurring opinion to the majority. Noting that the legislative intent was clear and not ambiguous, the Court rejected the Governor's position and found that state law provided the Governor no power to alter Cabinet positions at will.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Perry served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
from 1999 to 2000, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
. Perry was the first African American to hold that position. After being nominated by Keating, Perry was never confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
. Perry's appointment became a central issue in the 2001 Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and leads the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the government of Oklahoma....
case Keating v. Edmondson
Keating v. Edmondson
Keating v. Edmondson, 2001 OK 110, 37 P.3d 882 , was an Oklahoma Supreme Court case that ruled that the Governor of Oklahoma could not alter the structure of his Cabinet without the approval of the Legislature. The case was primarily concerned with the Governor–Legislature relation...
.
Corporate career
Perry started the Black ChronicleBlack Chronicle
The Black Chronicle is an African American weekly newspaper in the state of Oklahoma. Founded in April 1979 and based in Oklahoma City's Eastside, it is owned by Perry Publishing and Broadcasting and caters to Oklahoma City's black community....
in 1979, a statewide newspaper based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
that focuses on the African community in Oklahoma. At the same time, Perry founded and become the President of Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Company
Perry Publishing and Broadcasting
Perry Publishing and Broadcasting is a print media, local cable television show producer and radio broadcasting group based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, targeting the local African American community. Russell M. Perry is the Owner and President of the company....
, which is a print media, cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
and radio broadcasting corporation. Perry Publishing owns radio stations KVSP
KVSP
KVSP is a Mainstream Urban radio station serving the Oklahoma City area and Central Oklahoma. It is owned by Perry Broadcasting and its transmitter is located in Alfalfa, Oklahoma...
in Oklahoma City, KJMM
KJMM
KJMM is an Urban Contemporary radio station serving the Greater Tulsa area. It is owned by Perry Broadcasting and is licensed to Bixby, Oklahoma.-History:KJMM signed on the air in 1994 as the Urban Contemporary-formatted station for Tulsa...
in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, and KKRX
KKRX
KKRX is a radio station broadcasting a Urban Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Lawton, Oklahoma, USA, the station serves the Lawton area. The station is currently owned by Perry Broadcasting of Lawton and features programing from ABC Radio....
in Lawton
Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Perry would later come to own the controlling interest in First Security Bank of Oklahoma City.
Commerce Secretary
In 1999, following the resignation of Howard Barnett, Jr.Howard Barnett, Jr.
Howard G. Barnett, Jr. is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the President of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa....
, Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
appointed Perry to serve as his third Secretary of Commerce
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
, making Perry the first African American to ever serve in that position.
Perry serve as Secretary in a unconfirmed basis while his Governor Keating sent his nomination to the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
. Initially Perry's nomination was set to be heard by Senate Economic Development Committee, where the nominations of Dean Werries
Dean Werries
E. Dean Werries is an American business from Oklahoma. Werries is currently serving as a Director Emeritus for Sonic Drive-In. Werries previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 1995 to 1997...
, Ron Rosenfeld
Ron Rosenfeld
Ronald A. "Ron" Rosenfeld is an American politician and housing expert. Rosenfeld has previously served in numerous U.S. federal and Oklahoma state government positions relating to housing. He served as Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board and President of the Government National Mortgage...
and Howard Barnett, Jr.
Howard Barnett, Jr.
Howard G. Barnett, Jr. is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the President of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa....
(Keating's former Secretaries of Commerce) had been heard. However, President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
Stratton Taylor (at the request of State Senator Angela Monson) transferred his nomination to the Senate Finance Committee, which Senator Monson chaired. Though 10 members of the 15 member committee favored Perry's appointment, Senator Monson blocked the nomination by never allowing it to be heard before the Finance Committee. Ultimately, the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
adjourned without ever hearing Perry's nomination.
Governor Keating and Perry claimed that the reason Perry's nomination was not heard was because he was a conservative Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
African American. They claimed that the move was done at the request of the Legislative Black Caucus, all member of which were Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Senator Monson, however, said that Perry's salary as Commerce Secretary would cost the State too much and be duplicative.
Economic Development Secretary
After Perry spent a year in political limbo, in May 2000 Governor Keating issued Executive Order 2000-11 which abolished the position of Secretary of Commerce and established the position of Secretary of Economic Development and Special Affairs. Keating then nominated Perry to the new position, which Perry would serve in on a voluntary basis.On June 8, 2000, Senator Monson submitted a request for an official opinion to Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
Drew Edmondson
Drew Edmondson
William Andrew "Drew" Edmondson , is an American lawyer and politician from Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, Edmondson served as the 16th Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2011...
concerning Keating's actions. Edmondson issued Attorney General Opinion 2000-54 on October 26, 2000, in which Edmondson found Keating's actions against the provisions of the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
The Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 is an Oklahoma state law that requires the Governor of Oklahoma to organize the various departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities of the state's executive branch into a cabinet system.The Executive Branch Reform Act was signed into law by...
. Governor Keating then filed a petition on October 27, 2000, in Oklahoma County District Court to overturn Edmondson's opinion. After hearing oral arguments, the trial judge upheld the Attorney General's opinion.
On December 29, 2000, Keating appealed a single issue - whether a Governor is empowered to reorganize the executive Cabinet throughout the term of office. The appeal was sent to the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and leads the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the government of Oklahoma....
for consideration.
In May, 2001, Keating withdraw Perry's nomination for consideration as Economic Development Secretary and instead appointed Perry as his Special Adviser for Economic Development, which is a non-cabinet level post.
Keating v. Edmondson
The Supreme Court decided the case of Keating v. EdmondsonKeating v. Edmondson
Keating v. Edmondson, 2001 OK 110, 37 P.3d 882 , was an Oklahoma Supreme Court case that ruled that the Governor of Oklahoma could not alter the structure of his Cabinet without the approval of the Legislature. The case was primarily concerned with the Governor–Legislature relation...
on December 4, 2001. In a unanimous decision, the Court rejected the Governor's appeal and upheld Edmondson's opinion. Chief Justice Rudolph Hargrave
Rudolph Hargrave
Rudolph Hargrave served as a Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court from 1978 until his retirement on December 31, 2010....
authored the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Watt, Hodges, Lavender, Opala, Kauger, Summers, and Boudreau. Justice Winchester wrote a concurring opinion to the majority. Noting that the legislative intent was clear and not ambiguous, the Court rejected the Governor's position and found that state law provided the Governor no power to alter Cabinet positions at will.