The Republican endorsement of four candidates for Douglas County schools has turned what is normally a routine nonpartisan election into a pitched battle.

On one side are four candidates backed by the Republican Party and on the other side are four who have support from the teachers union.

Fur is flying in the race for four seats on the seven-member board — with accusations of campaign violations, blogged rumors and even robo-calls by former Gov. Bill Owens.

"This kind of a race hasn't been seen in a long time in Douglas County," said Meghann Silverthorn, one of the Republican-backed candidates.

On Monday, Colorado Ethics Watch asked for an investigation by the federal Office of the Special Counsel on whether Silverthorn violated the Hatch Act by running a partisan political campaign while employed by the Department of Defense.