THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 13, 2011 -
Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
As front man for the rap group 2 Live Crew, Luther Campbell became notorious for raunchy lyrics and run-ins with the law.
But now, more than two decades after the group released the album titled "As Nasty As They Wanna Be," Campbell is seeking a judge's help in a dispute with the Florida Department of Education about whether he should receive a state certification to coach high-school football in Miami.
The department last fall turned down Campbell's application for a certificate, pointing in part to 1980s firearms-related charges and a 2003 plea deal that stemmed from a lewd performance in South Carolina.
Then-Education Commissioner Eric Smith signed a document in October spelling out several reasons for the denial, including that Campbell "has been guilty of gross immorality or an act involving moral turpitude.''
But Campbell began an appeals process this spring, and the case was sent last week to the state Division of Administrative Hearings, where a judge will recommend whether he should get the certification.
Michael Carney, an attorney for Campbell, acknowledged the rapper's reputation. But outside the spotlight, Carney said Campbell has been heavily involved in helping with football and other youth activities in some of Miami's roughest neighborhoods.
"There's a lot that you haven't heard,'' Carney said Friday. "Contemporaneous with being the bad boy, he's always been a real good guy when it comes to youth athletics.''
Carney said Miami-Dade County gave Campbell temporary approval to work as an assistant football coach, which led to him serving the past two years at Miami Central High School and now at Miami Northwestern. But he is looking for the state certification so he can continue.
Department of Education spokeswoman Cheryl Etters said such certification would only apply to coaching and not to working as a teacher, which carries more-stringent education and training requirements. Along with completing applications, people seeking coaching certificates have to submit fingerprints and go through background checks.
An administrative law judge will hear Campbell's appeal and issue what is known as a "recommended order." The state's Education Practices Commission will receive that recommendation and make a final decision.
While Campbell is known for his rap career, he also has been an outspoken First Amendment advocate and most recently drew attention as a candidate for Miami-Dade County mayor. He finished in fourth place in a May election, drawing nearly 21,000 votes.
In a Miami Herald story last year about his coaching duties, Campbell said he had left behind the wild times.
"I'm happy and proud of what we accomplished, but that part of my life is over,'' Campbell told the Herald. "The entertainer --- I left him on stage.''
But the Department of Education decision last fall to reject Campbell's application did not overlook his past.
The department document cited a 1985 firearms charge in Miami-Dade and a 1986 charge in Hillsborough County. It says Campbell was found guilty of improper exhibition of a firearm in the Hillsborough case and that a judge "withheld adjudication" --- typically a type of plea arrangement that does not show up as a conviction --- on a charge of carrying a concealed firearm in the Miami-Dade case.
The Department of Education said Campbell did not fully disclose information about the firearms cases in his application for the coaching certificate.
Also, the document cited a South Carolina case that stemmed from a Campbell performance involving naked women and what were described as lewd acts.
