Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has scored a win with a court issuing a temporary restraining order against Frisco Independent School District, halting what he calls "illegal electioneering." According to the Texas Attorney General's Office, Frisco ISD was found to be using official resources to promote certain political agendas during the ongoing primary elections, supposedly a clear violation of the Texas Election Code's rules against utilizing taxpayer-funded resources for electioneering activities.
The legal action follows the discovery that public employees were allegedly misusing district resources to influence political measures. Paxton sued Frisco ISD on February 28, and the state's lawsuit charged the district with repeatedly breaking the law. However, due to a Court of Criminal Appeals ruling in Texas v. Stephens, which is currently keeping him from prosecuting criminal violations of the Election Code, Paxton is instead seeking civil remedies that include the temporary restraining order just granted.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Restraining Order Against Frisco ISD to Stop Illegal Electioneering: https://t.co/JjjEYzwYOE
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) March 1, 2024
Frisco ISD is the latest in a series of Texas school districts that have come under legal scrutiny for similar allegations; Denton ISD, Denison ISD, and Castleberry ISD have all faced lawsuits for purportedly crossing the line into illegal campaigning activities with Paxton's office claiming such actions are criminal and that while the Attorney General's hands are tied in terms of criminal prosecution for now, local authorities could take up the mantle to press charges with the Attorney General asserting his dedication to maintaining the integrity of the state's elections by employing every tool at his disposal.
The larger battle for election integrity continues as the Office of the Attorney General investigates other potential violations across Texas, this case against Frisco ISD, however, sends a clear message that the state will not tolerate the misuse of public resources in elections, and as public servants, educators have a responsibility to steer clear of using their influence or the resources at their disposal for partisan politics, the Attorney General's efforts highlight his commitment to safeguarding the democratic process by ensuring that elections are free from the undue influence of state employees and their resources.
