The teachers union in Broward County, Fla. is seeking to have a hike in the district’s health insurance plan stopped while an investigation continues into a potential ethical conflict involving a board member who voted for the change.
Board member Stephanie Kraft ‘s husband works for a lobbyist that has the insurance company involved as a client. Kraft was the chairwoman of a three-person committee that approved the insurance rate increases.
The Broward Teachers union is expected to file its injunction in court today, reports The Miami Herald.
Kraft has said her vote was not based on lobbying, but on extensive research comparing options. A citizen filed a complaint against Kraft this fall with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Kraft is not the only board member to be investigated for ethical reasons of late. Board member Beverly Gallagher was arrested as part of a federal corruption probe. She allegedly promised two FBI agents who posed as businessmen that she would steer lucrative school construction projects their way in return for money paid to her.