Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Hutto Independent School District, claiming the district used government resources for illegal electioneering.
According to a press release published by Paxton’s office on March 4, Hutto ISD promoted political policies on its social media and used government resources to do so.
The lawsuit filing states that Hutto ISD’s promotion goes against the Education Code, which prohibits anyone from using official government resources to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party. The filing also claims that the school district used public funds for political advertising, prohibited by the Election Code.
Hutto ISD’s social media post, published on Facebook on Feb. 28, reads “Education is ALWAYS on the Ballot! Vouchers hurt our public schools. For every 100 Hippos lost to a voucher, Hutto ISD would lose 1.15 million dollars, which could mean a loss of 18 teaching positions or 8 new school buses.”
Hutto ISD followed up on March 5 with a statement about the lawsuit, writing, “Hutto ISD was surprised to learn of a suit filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton. At no time has the District used public resources to advocate for or against a candidate, ballot measure, or political party, in violation of state law.”
“At Hutto ISD, our focus remains on empowering student success and advancing our district. We’re committed to enhancing every student’s journey towards excellence,” they concluded.
Attorney General Paxton has also filed lawsuits against other school districts, claiming illegal electioneering. Current filings include Denton, Frisco, Denison, Castleberry, Huffman, and Aledo.
