The Coalition to Recall Diane Douglas filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s office Tuesday. It contends her chief of staff used his official authority to influence political action.
The same day the Coalition to Recall Diane Douglas submitted an application to the state, Arizona Department of Education Chief of Staff Michael Bradley sent an email to an education organization from a personal account. He asked why the Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators website had information about the political effort and if the organization is supporting the recall.
Max Goshert is leading the charge to recall Diane Douglas.
“If he’s doing this to this one organization. What is he doing that we are not aware of?" Goshert said. "What is he doing that the public is not aware of? What is he doing behind closed doors and behind the scenes to try to influence this recall?”
The information about Goshert and the recall is no longer on the group’s website. Arizona Department of Education Spokesman Charles Tack said Michael Bradley sent the email while he was on sick leave.
“Michael did ask the folks running the website if they were affiliated with the recall just simply as a member of the public who is curious," Tack said. "You’ll notice he did not mention his role at the Department of Education, he did not mention his relationship to the superintendent.”
Tack said there is no legal issue with Bradley’s actions. The Coalition to Recall Diane Douglas has four months to collect more than 366,000 valid signatures to force a recall election.
