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'''John Thomas Schedler''', known as '''Tom Schedler''' (born January 24, 1950), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] secretary of state of his native U.S. state of [[Louisiana]].

'''John Thomas Schedler''', known as '''Tom Schedler''' (born January 24, 1950), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] secretary of state of his native U.S. state of [[Louisiana]].

From 1996 to 2008, Schedler was the District 11 state senator for St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. Term-limited affer twelve years in the Senate, he was  named chief deputy to the Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, a former Senate colleague of Schedler's from [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>''[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]'', December 6, 2007.</ref> When Dardenne won a special election for lieutenant governor in 2010, Schedler became the secretary of state. On October 22, 2011, Schedler won a full term as secretary by narrowly defeating the outgoing state House Speaker Jim Tucker, 449,370 (50.5 percent) to 440,872 (49.5 percent). He won only twenty-six of the sixty-four parishes in the race against Tucker, and his margin of victory was attributed to his own St. Tammany Parish. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Louisiana election returns|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

From 1996 to 2008, Schedler was the District 11 state senator for St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. Term-limited affer twelve years in the Senate, he was  named chief deputy to the Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, a former Senate colleague of Schedler's from [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>''New Orleans Times-Picayune'', December 6, 2007.</ref> When Dardenne won a special election for lieutenant governor in 2010, Schedler became the secretary of state. On October 22, 2011, Schedler won a full term as secretary by narrowly defeating the outgoing state House Speaker Jim Tucker, 449,370 (50.5 percent) to 440,872 (49.5 percent). He won only twenty-six of the sixty-four parishes in the race against Tucker, and his margin of victory was attributed to his own St. Tammany Parish. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Louisiana election returns|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

   

   

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, the former Stephanie Gele on Mandeville, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual.  However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler showed the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, the former Stephanie Gele on Mandeville, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual.  However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler showed the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation as secretary of state. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation as secretary of state. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV|author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign immediately, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV|author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

Schedler said he will fight the allegations and argued that the truth in the dispute lies "somewhere in the middle". Meanwhile, he is on extended leave from his office.<ref>{{cite web|=http://www.wafb.com/story/37718691/sec-of-state-announces-will-not-seek-reelection-in-2019-amid-sexual-harassment-scandal|title=Secretary of State announces he will not seek reelection in 2019 amid sexual harassment scandal|publisher=WAFB-TV|date=March 13, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>  

Schedler said he will fight the allegations and argued that the truth in the dispute lies "somewhere in the middle". Meanwhile, he is on extended leave from his office.<ref>{{cite web|=http://www.wafb.com/story/37718691/sec-of-state-announces-will-not-seek-reelection-in-2019-amid-sexual-harassment-scandal|title=Secretary of State announces he will not seek reelection in 2019 amid sexual harassment scandal|publisher=WAFB-TV|date=March 13, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>