Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher said Wednesday she is taking a medical leave of absence from the board — and not resigning her position, contrary to reported rumors.
Gallagher will take about six weeks off to deal with a medical problem. She declined to make details of her condition public, though she said she expects to back on the job after the leave and hopes to call in to School Board meetings when she can during her absence.
Gallagher, who is usually present at meetings, missed several in recent weeks. That fueled rumors about her possible resignation, which were published Wednesday in The Daily Pulp, a Broward New Times blog.
Gallagher, 51, told The Miami Herald she has been undergoing medical tests during her absences.
"Yes, I have missed meetings, because I've been in some pretty good pain," said Gallagher, who has been on the board since 2000 and was reelected last year.
Adding to resignation speculation: Gallagher missed a July 1 deadline to file an annual financial disclosure form with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Gallagher has repeatedly said she sent the form but it got lost. She has not filed another one because she is planning to move and has boxed up her records, she added Wednesday.
"I would have to move all my boxes to have to find them, because I didn't think I was going to have to look at all that until next year," Gallagher said. "Right now my health is a little bit more important to
me."
The state fines elected officials who don't file the form $25 a day after the end of a grace period Sept. 1.
Gallagher represents Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Cooper City, Southwest Ranches and part of Davie.
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