Education commissioner upholds censure in Leonard ethics case
Censure against former Beachwood school board representative stands
TOMS RIVER - The long-running saga of a school ethics matter involving former Board of Education member Dan Leonard has finally drawn to a close after 3 years of litigation. The state Acting Commissioner of Education, Angela Allen McMillan formally upheld the 2021 initial decision finding that Leonard violated the School Ethics Act and affirming the imposition of a censure against the former board member.
In an August 12th, 2022 decision, Allen McMillan's office affirmed the findings of Administrative Law Judge Elia A. Pelios and the initial decision of the School Ethics Commission to censure the former Toms River Regional Schools board member.
"Upon review, for the reasons thoroughly detailed in the Initial Decision of the
Administrative Law Judge and the decision of the Commission, the Commissioner concurs with the penalty recommended by the Commission for respondent’s violation of the Code in connection with certain posts he made to social media."
The Commissioner's decision noted that Leonard has not contested the initial ruling from 2021 by either filing exceptions or instituting an appeal.
School board members in New Jersey are required to adhere to the state's code of ethics for school board members, as well as refrain from the list of prohibited acts defined in the state administrative code.
The initial ruling found that Leonard violated N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(e), which provides:
I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board.
Individuals seeking to bring an ethics complaint against a school member in New Jersey must first bring their case before the School Ethics Commission within the state Department of Education. As provided by state law, the Commissioner of Education can accept, reject or modify the final penalties, if any, imposed by the Commission following a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Leonard was targeted by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) for posts calling Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar a "terrorist" stating “My life would be complete if she/they die" about Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Both congresswomen are nationally known as members of "the squad," a group of progressive Democrats that often draw the ire of conservatives.
Leonard, for his part, has not backed down from his vocal commentary on social media since choosing not to seek reelection to his seat on the board in the wake of the 2019 incident.
On his Radical Freedom USA News Network Facebook page and other platforms, he has railed against the return of Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore as well as Toms River Board of Education member Ashley Lamb, who ran an unsuccesful primary campaign against incumbent Virginia "Ginny" Haines this spring.
Read the full decision:
Comments ()