Tyler County Board of Education Member Larry Thomas pleaded guilty before the state ethics board to sending a text message to the Tyler County Superintendent of Schools asking for his help in hiring his son to a position in the school system, which is a direct violation of the state Ethic Act.

Thomas was reprimanded by the Ethics Commission and fined $750, plus ordered to undergo training of the Ethics Act. The Ethics commission reportedly doesn’t have the authority or power to remove Thomas from his position on the Board of Education, although they may recommend to the appropriate governmental body that a public official be terminated from employment or removed from office.