The Florida Elections Commission will hold a hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, on whether there is probable cause to proceed with a complaint filed against Jay Wheeler, Osceola County School Board member, involving alleged use of campaign contributions for personal expenses and other election law violations.

Tom Long, who is now a School Board member, filed the complaint Feb. 15, 2010. The hearing will be at the Senate Office Building, Room 401, 404 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee.

According to the commission, the complaint involves six allegations against Wheeler: a $1,000 expenditure to Osceola High School to sponsor a sign on school property; non-disclosure of the OHS sign sponsorship; failure to list an in-kind $500 contribution from the School District; use of campaign funds to pay for cellular phone use for himself, his wife and his daughter; use of campaign funds to defray normal living expenses for himself and/or his family for the purchase of gasoline and automobile insurance; and use of campaign funds to pay for cable television, Internet and telephone service at his home.

According to information contained in a letter to Long in March of 2010, hearings on a complaint are set once the commission completes its investigation into the allegations. Wheeler has 14 days to respond to the findings of that investigation.

In addition, the commission legal staff will provide a written statement to the commission on whether there is probable cause to believe that Wheeler violated election laws. Wheeler has 14 days to respond to this statement.

At the probable cause hearing, Wheeler will be allowed to make an oral statement but may not testify or call others to testify or introduce any evidence. Long also will be allowed to make a brief statement.

At any time before the probable cause hearing, Wheeler may notify the commission that he wants to enter into negotiations directed toward a settlement of the complaints.

Wheeler has denied the allegations in the complaint. However, he did repay more than $2,000 related to expenses in his 2010 election campaign several months after the complaint was filed.

Wheeler also faces ethics complaints that Long filed last year with the Florida Commission on Ethics. The hearing for the ethics complaint has not been set.

The Elections Commission hearing May 10 is confidential but results will be published 10 to 12 days later.

Long declined comment on the issue. Wheeler on Wednesday said he had not yet received notification of the hearing.