The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) issued the following statement today after state officials confirmed an investigation into Broward School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi regarding the misuse of taxpayer funds for a partisan political event.

Reports indicate that a district-issued purchase card was used to pay for a ticket to a political gala hosted by the Broward County Democratic Party. The incident has raised serious concerns about the use of public resources for political purposes.

RPOF Chairman Evan Power released the following statement:

“Floridians expect their tax dollars to be used to educate students not to subsidize partisan political events. This abusive use of taxpayer dollars s in Broward, funds desperately needed for public education, erodes public trust. We commend the state for taking swift action to investigate and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The Democrats on the Broward County School Board should know that students, parents, and taxpayers demand transparency, integrity, and leadership that respects the law.”

The RPOF emphasized that public officials must adhere strictly to Florida’s ethics laws and maintain a clear separation between official duties and political activity.