Embattled board member calls ethics law unconstitutional
By MEGAN MATTEUCCI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Clayton County school board member has asked a Superior Court judge to declare the board’s ethics law unconstitutional.
Michael King, who is facing possible removal from his District 4 seat, filed suit Wednesday against the school board, school system and board’s ethics commission.
Last month, the ethics commission found King, an attorney, in violation of the school board’s ethics law for representing a former teacher who sued the school district. The commission recommended King be removed.
King has appealed the decision and is waiting for the school board to make a final decision.
“I don’t want the body to apply an unconstitutional statute when they make a decision,” King said Thursday.
King’s suit calls the board’s ethics law unconstitutional and alleges it conflicts with the state’s code of ethics.
The General Assembly passed the Clayton ethics law last year after the school system became the first in the nation to lose accreditation in the last 40 years.
“It places a higher burden on school board members in Clayton than any other elected official in the state,” King said. “The governor removed four Clayton school board members under the state ethics code. Why do we need another ethics policy?”
Board chairwoman Alieka Anderson and Clayton schools attorney Julie Lewis said they were unaware of the suit and could not comment until reviewing it.
King has asked a judge to act in the next seven days.
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