Local Politics · Phoenix, AZ
AG Investigates Charter School PAC Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations
The Arizona Attorney General's Office is investigating the Educational Freedom Fund PAC, chaired by Glenn Way (CEO of Charter One LLC and founder of American Leadership Academy), for alleged violations of Arizona's ban on corporate political contributions. The PAC received approximately $200,000 from Charter One but made $83,200 in direct candidate contributions to Republican Arizona House and Senate candidates in 2022 and 2024 elections. A January 2025 complaint filed by former Paradise Valley Unified School District teacher Kerry Baker was forwarded to the AG's office by the Secretary of State. At a press conference organized by Opportunity Arizona, Phoenix Elementary School District board President Erika Ovalle and others called on 25 Republican lawmakers who received PAC donations to return them. The PAC's attorneys defended the contributions as legal, arguing Charter One's assets are Way's personal assets, while blaming former treasurer Youssef Khalaf if any violation occurred.