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Ethics Accusations Against OPS Board President

Nicole Ebat

OMAHA(KPTM)--An Ethics Complaint has been filed against the Omaha Public School Board President.

The Douglas County Republican Party is accusing Freddie Gray of voting to give money to three groups where her husband, a city councilman, has sat on the board.

The group says that amounts to a conflict of interest. They filed the complaint with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

Freddie Gray is already under allegations that she knew about sexually explicit emails sent by the hired superintendent, Nancy Sebring. She resigned before ever starting.

Douglas County's GOP says the study started as a way to help prepare future candidates to run for a spot on the school board.

During that the party says they came across "a number of expenditures where Freddie Gray has participated in the vote for expenditures that are being paid to where Ben Gray, her husband, sits on the board."

Those groups are: United Way of the Midlands, Impact One, and Girls Inc.

Bruce Dickes, a representative for the party, said the information about the latest allegations came to light "recently", but couldn't give an exact time table.

The Douglas county democratic party says they're distorting the truth.

"Ben Gray received no financial compensation, no financial gain whatsoever which is the standard by the [Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission] rules," said Kris Pierce.

Ben Gray says he never actually sat on one of the boards and donated to the other groups.

The timing of the complaint is suspicious to some.

"If the Republican Party were trying to serve the public, why hold this? This damaging information, this potential impropriety, why hold it?" asked Kris Pierce with the Douglas County Democrats.

Dickes said the information is particularly important now so voters can get all the information he says is needed.

A vote of no confidence against Freddie Gray has been scheduled for Monday's school board meeting.

Two of the organizations mentioned said the dealings they have had with the school district began before Ben Gray served on the boards.