By Kirsten Adshead Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON — Shelly Moore of River Falls, a Democrat and teacher vying to unseat state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf in a recall election this summer, illegally used her public-school email account for campaign-related business, according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Reid Magney, spokesman for the Government Accountability Board, or GAB, confirmed that the complaint the agency received exists, but said investigations are confidential.

Late Wednesday, Moore said she had done nothing wrong and called the complaint “yet another lie.”

Moore teaches English and drama at Ellsworth Community High School and is on the ballot in the Democratic primary scheduled for July 12.

The complaint contains copies of emails allegedly sent from Moore’s public-school email account, some during school hours, from February through April, which the GOP says were obtained through an open records request.

The subjects of the emails are political rallies and attempts to recall Harsdorf, R-River Falls, including Moore’s potential candidacy.

In an email dated March 10, Moore allegedly wrote, “We are not supposed to use school email, but since all of our rights are being taken away, I don’t frankly care.”

Gillian Morris, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said in an emailed response to questions that the complaint is “nothing more than a political stunt intended to distract voters from how vulnerable Sheila Harsdorf is.”

“Shelly Moore was absolutely not campaigning with taxpayer dollars — no campaign even existed when these emails were sent,” Morris said.

Moore said teachers are allowed to use their email accounts for union-related discussions and that the emails fall under those guidelines.

The Republican Party is asking GAB, the state’s election agency, to investigate, including to “commence an action in civil court with respect to any civil violations” and “refer any criminal violations to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities.”