Complaint Accuses Johnston School Leaders, Employees of Misconduct in Election

Johnston school board member John Dutcher filed a complaint with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Friday accusing district employees of misconduct in last fall's election.

According to the Des Moines Register, Dutcher claimed employees improperly used public resources to advocate for the election of four school board candidates last fall.

Dutcher filed the complain after he obtained nearly 17,000 emails sent near the time of last fall's election.

According to the Register, the emails involved fellow board members Greg Dockum, Mike Farrell, Deb Henry and Jill Morrill, Superintendent Clay Guthmiller, district employees, administrators and leaders of the Johnston Education Association.

Dutcher told the Register he had heard rumors district staff worked on campaigns using district resources and equipment prohibited by Iowa law.

In September, Dockum, Farrell, Morrill and Henry were elected from a list of seven candidates, including incumbent Tracey Orman.

Dutcher told the Register he "took an oath to uphold the federal constitution, as well as the state constitution."

When reached by the Register, Farrell and Morrill said they could not recall using district email for campaigning last year.

Last May, Dutcher spurred a re-audit of the district.

In December, when the and all problems with record keeping had been fixed, Dutcher called for Guthmmiller, as well as Farrell and Morrill, to resign.

Earlier this month, Dutcher questioned the district's policy on when discussing a new, two-year contract for Guthmiller.

According to the Register, Dutcher submitted 418 pages of emails as evidence to the state and Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

An official with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board told the Register the board had received the complaint but wouldn't comment until it was reviewed.

Dutcher was elected to the Johnston school board in September 2009.