Holtz later released a separate document proposing Humphries would get a DPI job with the same salary and benefits overseeing assessments and curriculum.

Holtz has said the proposal was put forward at the direction of a “business leader” whom he and Humphries have declined to identify.

However, Humphries has said the proposal was Holtz’s alone.

Humphries, who now works as a consultant for the Dodgeville School District, said Wednesday he was glad the complaint was dismissed.

“I was surprised by the original proposal from Holtz, and the fact that the complaint was dismissed supports my decision to bring it to the public’s attention,” he said.

Holtz said after a candidate forum held in Madison that the conversation between him and Humphries has been misrepresented “as trying to buy somebody out” and that he didn’t believe any violation of the law had occurred.

“Think of Hillary Clinton running for office,” Holtz said. “You think she didn’t talk to anybody about being her chief of staff if she got elected? People do that all the time.”

Emails scrutinized