MINOT, Maine — A former Maine school bus driver who was fired for making racist and sexist comments has been elected to the school board.

The Sun-Journal reports Mike Downing was elected earlier this month to represent Minot on the RSU 16 school board.

Downing was fired from his job as a bus driver in January for his insensitive comments. He used racial slurs when describing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and referred to both Superintendent Tina Meserve and School Board Chairwoman Mary Martin with a sexist slur.

Downing’s dismissal was not made public so it’s possible voters didn’t know he had been fired.

Downing believes he was fired because he helped form a union and says he’s considering suing the school system for wrongful termination.

Both Meserve and Martin declined to comment Tuesday.