West Carroll School Board Member Apologizes For Romney Post - KWQC-TV6 News and Weather For The Quad Cities -

West Carroll School Board Member Apologizes For Romney Post

Updated: Oct 26, 2012 09:24 AM CDT

The vice president of the West Carroll school board has issued an apology for an online post that got the attention of the Secret Service. Agents started investigating Tim Atherton after a post on his Facebook page came across as a threat involving Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"My comment was made in jest, but was perceived as serious. My poor judgment in making the comment has had very serious consequences. I am truly sorry for the anxiety my action has caused and I apologize to everyone for my lapse in plain common sense," Atherton said.

At a school board meeting last week, the board's president said the district has received numerous calls, comments and emails about Atherton's behavior. Some people demanded that Atherton be removed from the board.

"While each of those constituents was heard, the Illinois school code does not grant the authority to local school boards to discipline or remove a school board member from their elected office," board president Mike Highland explained.

TV-6 contacted the Secret Service to get an update on Atherton's case, but our calls have not been returned yet.