It seems that for Rep. Mark Danish campaigning and teaching middle school just doesn’t mix.
Weeks after learning that he is under investigation by the Hillsborough County School District, Danish decided to take a leave of absence from his job as science teacher for Benito Middle School, reports Marlene Sokol in the Tampa Bay Times.
The remarkably well-timed leave gives the Tampa Democrat plenty of time to run for re-election for the State House District 63, which covers northern Hillsborough County.
Although Danish says he was aware school officials kept a “close watch” on his 2012 campaigning activities while running for office, he continues to maintain he “did nothing wrong.” The school district strictly prohibits political activities in the workplace.
The Hillsborough County School District had also been eyeing Danish carefully as he campaigns to retain his seat in 2014. Apparantly, the extra scrutiny was enough to force him to stop teaching.
He was nearing retirement anyway, Danish told the Times.
There is incresing scrutiny on political activities at work in Hillsborough County schools, since the district is facing a federal lawsuit from another school employee — George Olmo — fired in 2012 for distributing petitions to cafeteria workers critical of Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.
