Conservative group questions whether SBOE member can serve
State Board of Education Chairwoman Gail Lowe said Friday she will seek an opinion from the attorney general on whether a new board member meets statutory requirements to serve. Lowe announced the action after a social conservative group questioned whether board member Thomas Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant (right), is eligible to serve because he is a lobbyist. The question was raised by the Texas Eagle Forum, which supported Ratliff's opponent - Don McLeroy - in the GOP primary last year.
Texas Eagle Forum President Pat Carlson said a provision in the 1995 Texas Education Code prohibits anyone from serving on the board who is registered as a lobbyist for a business or association that does business with the Texas Education Agency. "Concerns have been raised...that all SBOE members are not in compliance with this statute," she said. "My question today is who would I ask for an investigation of this matter?" She never mentioned Ratliff by named in addressing