Former District 2 opponent files lawsuit against School Board member Diyonne McGraw

CBS4 | by Joseph Erickson | June 9, 2021

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. — A lawsuit listing multiple plaintiffs — including former District 2 candidate Khanh-Lien Banko — is set to be filed “this week” against Alachua County School Board member Diyonne McGraw.

Last week, residents began a petition alleging that McGraw lived in District 4 rather than District 2. Because McGraw represents District 2, she is required by law to live there.

The Supervisor of Elections Office has since confirmed that McGraw lives in District 4.

McGraw defeated Banko with a total of 30,278 votes to Banko’s 27,550 in August of 2020 to win the District 2 seat.

The lawsuit will be filed by local attorney Jeff Childers of Childers Law, LLC.

“Ms. McGraw seems to be confused about the difference between voting precincts, which are redrawn by the County after each census, and school board districts, which are drawn by the school board whenever needed to ensure an equal number of voters live in each of the five districts,” said Childers.

Attorney Jeff Childers said an anonymous complaint from the board of education leaked information about McGraw’s residence and now they feel she should step down. “Since Ms McGraw did not reside in the district when she took office and has not maintained in the district she’s not qualified to sit in the district 2 seat, said Childers.

We reached out to McGraw and she says at this time her attorneys advised her not to talk

The School Board issued a statement saying “Ms. McGraw was placed on the ballot by the Supervisor of Elections Office, which also certified her as the winner of the election. The School Board of Alachua County does not have the power to overturn those decisions.”

Image: Diyonne McGraw pictured at her election party in 2020. (WGFL)