Arizona Republican Kimberly Yee files formal campaign complaint against school chief foe

Kimberly Yee, the Republican nominee for Arizona superintendent of public instruction, filed a formal complaint Monday alleging that Democratic opponent Teresa Leyba Ruiz broke the law by putting public school staff and students in campaign content.

Ruiz responded Tuesday by calling the complaint “meritless” and “desperate,” saying she is visiting schools as part of her campaign so she can hear what educators have to say.

“Make no mistake: This complaint is a desperate political attempt by a career politician to distract from the negative press she has garnered by using taxpayer dollars to travel the state and espouse debunked conspiracy theories about furries and kitty litter on our dime,” Ruiz said in a statement Tuesday.

Ruiz was referring to Yee bringing up debunked claims of schools using litter boxes during a Legislative District 3 meeting in February.

“In some school districts across the state, they have litter boxes for those furries who want to have, you know, the opportunity to think that they are a cat,” Yee told the audience. “These are things that we have to erase from our educational system.”

What does Kimberly Yee’s complaint against Teresa Leyba Ruiz say?

The formal complaint Yee’s attorney submitted to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office accuses the Democrat of turning visits to public schools across the state into branded campaign material.

Ruiz has posted multiple photos and videos on social media produced inside classrooms and hallways on school property and interacting with students. Some of the images show her wearing a campaign button.

The complaint alleges that Ruiz violated parts of Arizona Revised Statutes Section 15-511, which bars school district facilities, personnel and buildings from being used “for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.” It does not allege that any school district employee knowingly authorized the campaign activity.

The complaint asks for penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, which would come out to a total fine of $70,000 for 14 specific social media posts.

Because Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has publicly endorsed Ruiz, the complaint asks that the matter be referred to a county attorney.

How did Teresa Leyba Ruiz respond to Kimberly Yee’s complaint?

Ruiz, a former Glendale Community College president, offered no apologies about her campaign strategy in the face of Yee’s complaint.

“While my opponent is focused on conspiracy theories and political agendas, I’ve campaigned as I would govern — focusing on students, listening to schools and partnering with families across the state,” she said in her rebuttal.

Ruiz said her school visits are part of a campaign promise and that she was invited into schools by administrators across party lines. She said the invitations were extended to Yee, too.

“I’m proud to have been invited into our public schools by administrators across all political parties — many of whom are Republicans — to understand the state of public education in Arizona,” she said. “My opponent has received these same invitations and refuses to attend.”

Voters will decide between Yee and Ruiz at the Nov. 3 general election.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

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