In the Denton Independent School District in Texas, two principals are facing legal action over accusations of breaching state election laws. Lindsey Lujan, principal of Alexander Elementary School, and Jesus Lujan, principal of Borman Elementary School, who are a married couple, reportedly used their official school email accounts to encourage staff to vote for anti-school choice candidates in the Republican primary against Governor Greg Abbott’s voucher initiative.
Fox 4 reported that the emails sent in February led to a lawsuit by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, against the Denton ISD. A settlement was eventually reached between Paxton’s office and the school district following the email leak.
The charges against the Lujans include the illegal use of a school’s internal mailing system for political campaigning, categorized as a Class A misdemeanor. This charge could result in up to one year of incarceration and a fine of $4,000.
The Texas American Federation of Teachers criticized the legal actions, labeling them as a political maneuver aimed at intimidating educators and school employees. The union expressed concerns over the potential deterrent effect these charges could have on civic participation and advocacy for public education.
While the school district acknowledged the importance of adhering to election laws, it also emphasized the value of informed voting, advising people to acquaint themselves with the candidates and their policies before participating in the primaries.
Lindsey Lujan’s court hearing is set for the following month, whereas Jesus Lujan’s hearing is scheduled for June.
