Lawmaker refutes blog's claims of charter school conflict

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An influential state senator in Ohio on Monday pushed back against allegations by a political blog that she has a conflict of interest regarding charter schools.

The posts suggested the alleged tie has given Fordham undue policy influence, including over legislation rewriting Ohio's charter school laws and affecting competing charter school sponsors.

Lehner, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, called such claims "baseless and scurrilous attacks" intended to mute her voice in fighting to crack down on bad actors in the charter school industry.

In a return letter to Lehner, 3rd Rail Editor-in-chief Cyndy Rees said the blog is funded by a Cleveland businessman increasingly disappointed in mainstream media coverage of the Statehouse.

While it may be more convenient for you, your sister, and her funders at Fordham to work quietly behind the scenes on education policy, we believe Ohioans have a right to know your connections to an individual school sponsor who may benefit from state legislation.