The Chronicle‘s Allan Turner profiles some of the hits and misses of state Rep. Borris Miles:
At first glance, the June 30 concert at Reliant Arena might have seemed just a routine hip-hop affair. But this one was different. Even though 7,500 teens and young adults turned out to hear Lil’ Wayne, J Xavier, Mista Madd and a host of other hip-hop celebrities, the only way to get into this event was to be tested for HIV.
Hip Hop 4 HIV was the brainchild of freshman state Rep. Borris Miles, a flamboyant insurance agent-turned-politician whose heavily black District 146 accounts for three-fourths of Harris County’s HIV infections.
To Miles’ supporters, the concert was characteristic of the fresh thinking the legislator had brought to his inner-city district after a surprise 2006 runoff victory over 27-year incumbent Al Edwards. But even as backers celebrate Miles’ innovations, others are concerned about a series of incidents involving the lawmaker that ranged from awkward to frightening.
The episodes culminated in December when Miles crashed a party at the posh St. Regis Hotel. Party host David Harris said a drunken Miles shocked guests with loud, profane language before planting a Godfather-style “kiss of death” on his cheeks, handing him a pistol and declaring,”You don’t know what I’m capable of doing.”
After proclaiming himself a “gangsta,” Miles then allegedly kissed a female guest on the lips while her husband was away from the table.
Prosecutors are scrutinizing the episode. Meanwhile, the female recipient of Miles’ unsolicited smooch filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages and demanding the lawmaker be tested for HIV. A hearing is set for Feb. 15.Other moments include Miles’ unilateral decision to censor an anti-death penalty art exhibit at the State Capitol and his profane chastisement of former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell at a downtown party.
Miles, gearing up for a March primary rematch with Edwards, declined to comment on the Harris and Bell incidents. He defends his art exhibit action.
If Rep. Miles wants to call himself a “gangsta,” we aren’t going to argue with him (we wouldn’t want to provoke unwanted groping and/or smooching, after all).
Several days earlier, KHOU-11’s Leigh Frillici scored an interview with the “gangsta” lawmaker, who noted that he likes to hug people.
