| |
2009 Municipal Elections: Important Rules Outlined Regarding Prohibited Activities
With election season upon us, it is important to point out the prohibitive activities for City employees under personnel policies and civil service rules. The items bolded in the listing below are the ones most frequently addressed during election cycles. Additionally, the rules below also include what is not prohibited – though these non-prohibited activities apply to non-municipal elections. These rules affect all civil and non-civil service employees. It is important that these rules be strictly adhered to as they can affect an employee’s status if violated, as well as cause problems for affected elected officials since election activities are very public, sometimes hotly contested, and the public and media scrutinize the City organization very carefully. The City organization is working to avoid problems that could compromise an elected official or employee, so please adhere strictly to these policies and rules.
Rule 15-Suspension, Reduction, Discharge Section 1, l
l. After the date of the adoption of these Rules, engaging in the following political activity is prohibited and the employee will be subject to disciplinary action for the following conduct:
(1) actively engaging in the management or organizational committee of any municipal campaign;
(2) acting as a worker at the polls in a municipal election;
(3) participating in the solicitation of money in a municipal election;
(4) contributing money or other valuables for any political purpose in connection with municipal elections;
(5) while on duty, engaging in the distribution of any political material;
(6) while on duty, promoting or engaging in the candidacy of any candidate or political party during any election period, whether it be a partisan or municipal election;
(7) using city time or resources for any political purpose;
(8) while wearing a city uniform, engaging in any political activity;
(9) attempting to influence the vote or political action of any city employee whether superior or subordinate, while on duty;
(10) attempting to influence, through threat or coercion, the vote or political action of any city employee whether superior or subordinate, while on or off duty;
(11) recruiting or encouraging other city employees to support or participate in municipal elections;
(12) seeking political office without first resigning as provide in Rule 17;
(13) accepting political paraphernalia while on duty or on city property;
(14) using your city title or position in an endorsement for any political election.
Anything not prohibited above is permitted, to include the following (which relate to non-municipal elections):
(1) engaging in the organizational efforts of partisan elections;
(2) participating in partisan election steering committees;
(3) demonstrating their political preference in partisan or municipal elections by displaying political paraphernalia representative of their political preference, so long as the employee is off duty, not in uniform, and not in a city facility, and does not use his or her city position or title;
(4) participating in the dialogue of community forums in any election;
(5) endorsing the candidate of their choice in any elections so long as the employee is off duty, not in uniform, and not in a city facility, and does not use his or her city position or title;
(6) participating in all matters related to their candidate’s election in partisan elections;
(7) joining political clubs and organizations;
(8) participating in all partisan activities related to the election process.
(Amended 05/07/02)
|
