A Democratic state Senate candidate and a Wheeling attorney who hosted a political fundraiser for him last month say having high school football players help park cars for the event doesn’t constitute a political endorsement by the school district.

Teresa Toriseva hosted a fundraiser July 26 for former U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld at her law office on National Road in Wheeling. Ihlenfeld is running against Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns.

River News spoke with Ferns about the Wheeling Park football players appearing at the event for Ihlenfeld, and how there is a conflict of interest when a school endorses a candidate.