Two principals in a Texas college district are dealing with prison prices after allegedly violating state election legal guidelines by utilizing their college emails to induce employees to vote for candidates who oppose college selection.
Alexander Elementary College Principal Lindsey Lujan and Borman Elementary Principal Jesus Lujan, who’re married, work within the Denton Unbiased College District.
The 2 directors emailed employees in February encouraging them to vote in March’s Republican major election for candidates who oppose GOP Gov. Greg Abbott’s college voucher plan, courtroom paperwork present, based on Fox 4.
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Texas Republican Lawyer Normal Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in opposition to Denton ISD in response to the emails, which have been leaked in February. Paxton’s workplace and the college district later reached a settlement.
The principals have been charged with illegal use of an inner mail system for political promoting, a Class A misdemeanor. The cost carries a most penalty of as much as a yr in jail and a $4,000 high-quality.
The Texas American Federation of Lecturers, a academics union, claimed the costs symbolize a “politically motivated authorized assault.”
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“This newest escalation within the marketing campaign in opposition to educators and faculty staff fulfilling their obligation to advertise civic engagement and utilizing their voices to focus on the excessive stakes for public training in our elections threatens to have a profound chilling impact in communities throughout the state,” Texas AFT mentioned in a information launch.
The district mentioned election legal guidelines needs to be adopted, but in addition inspired individuals to study in regards to the candidates and their positions earlier than voting within the major of their selecting.
A courtroom listening to for Lindsay Lujan is scheduled for subsequent month whereas her husband’s listening to is ready for June.
