Indiana Inspector General Files Ethics Complaint Against Tony Bennett

Kyle Stokes / StateImpact Indiana

Former state superintendent Tony Bennett lost his re-election bid in 2012.

UPDATED 2:15 p.m. EST — The Indiana Inspector General has filed an ethics complaint against former state superintendent Tony Bennett for using state computers for campaign business during his 2012 reelection bid.

This summer, the Associated Press published documents showing Bennett’s team kept a database of Republican donors on Indiana Department of Education computers.

Bennett, a Republican, served one term as state superintendent before being ousted by current schools chief Glenda Ritz. He resigned his post as Florida Commissioner of Education earlier this year after media reports revealed his team changed the school letter grades of several schools here in Indiana, including a charter founded by a prominent campaign donor.

“Throughout my time in public service I made every effort to be cognizant of and to follow state rules and guidelines for elected officials,” Bennett said in a statement. “I understand no conclusions have been made in this matter and I look forward to working with the Ethics Commission and the Inspector General’s office to demonstrate proper adherence to state rules and guidelines.”

Indiana Inspector General David Thomas declined to comment on the complaint. A hearing has been set for Jan. 9, 2014.

Read a copy of the complaint here.