Elections Commission complaint filed against superintendent

BOCA RATON, Fla. - A formal complaint has been filed against Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson.

The complaint was filed with the Florida Elections Commission by conservative political activist Jack Furnari of Boca Raton.

The complaint includes references to fliers and emails sent from the district about an upcoming vote on a tax referendum.

If the referendum is approved by voters next week an extra levy on county-wide property taxes would continue.

School policy prohibits support for political issues within school grounds.

The fliers and informational DVDs cost the district five thousand dollars.

"The flier clearly advocates and that's expressly forbidden by law, by the Florida legislature and it shouldn't have been handed out in the schools it shouldn't have been sent home with the school children," said Furnari.

The school district says it's done nothing wrong.

A spokesman says the school board legal office has reviewed the fliers and approved funding for them.

The spokesman added that district employees have been careful not to cross the line of advocacy.

The Florida Elections Commission will decide whether or Johnson broke the law.

If the commission finds Johnson at fault, this type of violation, according to Furnari, would result in a criminal misdemeanor charge.