The chair of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board denies there was meddling in last week's election for school board trustee.
Barb Holland flatly denies the charge made by candidate Eric Renaud who lost his bid by 430 votes to Bernard Mastromattei.
Renaud blames his loss in a letter sent to parents with children in area Catholic schools urging them not to support the abolition of the separate school board, something for which Renaud advocated.
Chuck Scarpelli, manager of records and elections with the City of Windsor, confirmed he received a complaint from Renaud alleging interference by the Catholic school board, a teachers' union, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of London.
He refused to comment but said the complaint had been forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
BlackburnNews.com has reached out to an official at the ministry but has not yet received a reply.
Holland disputed the allegation and said the letter was not meant to interfere in election results, just stir debate.
"When somebody comes out and says we want to eliminate Catholic education, something that is treasured by the families of 20,000 students that entrust those students to us every single day, we have just as much a right to say to our parents and to our community, here's what we do and here's how we do it," she said. "In no way did we say don't vote for this person or that person."
She says the board will cooperate with any investigation.
"If there is one," said Holland. "Of course we will."
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Spokesperson, Chuck Spezowka confirmed the complaint was filed and issued a statement that reads, "An elector has 90 days after voting day to make application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to request that it make a determination as to the validity of a particular election. Only the court can decide whether an offence has been committed, and only the court may determine the penalty upon conviction."
Renaud has indicated to BlackburnNews.com that he will be taking his complaint further.