The endorsement of Donald Trump by state schools chief Diane Douglas has come with a twist.
Douglas proclaimed her backing in an email Friday, saying the GOP presidential contender "shares my belief that the federal government's role in education needs to be reduced rather than expanded."
The email was prepared by her state-paid publicist on his state computer and sent out from a state email account. Charles Tack, the staffer in question, said neither he nor his boss did anything wrong.
"She needs to be able to communicate to the people who elected her her thoughts on an important election that's coming up and how she thinks it could affect education," Tack said.
One Arizona law bars state employees, including public officers, from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election. Another more specifically makes it illegal to use public resources to influence an election, with the statute specifically mentioning computers and personnel.
"I see this as letting Arizonans know where she stands on this particular issue," Tack said.
Tack said Douglas attended last week's speech by Trump in Phoenix, but did not get to meet him.