Group 2

Employees and Officers of the:

Office of the Commissioners; District Attorney's Office; Sheriff's Office; Police Department; and Board of Ethics

Can I campaign for a candidate?

No. Employees and officers in Group 2 are not permitted to volunteer for any political candidates or campaigns.

For more information about permissible and prohibited political activity, please see below.

Permissible Activity

You may vote in an election and register as a member of a political party.

As long as you are off duty, not in uniform, not using City resources, not on City owned or leased property, and do not use your City title, you may also:

  • give money to a candidate, party, or political group;*

  • sign a nominating petition;

  • express your personal political views;

  • attend a political fundraiser or rally as a spectator;

  • display a candidate’s campaign sign in your yard;

  • campaign for or against a ballot question;

  • wear a campaign button; and

  • talk about your personal political opinions

*Note: Police Department employees cannot make a contribution to a candidate or a political committee affiliated with a candidate.

Prohibited Activity

You are not allowed to engage in any political activity while you are:

  • on duty,

  • in uniform,

  • using City resources

  • on City-owned or City-leased property, OR

  • using your City title or position.

You also are strictly prohibited from engaging in the following:

  • Volunteering: Unlike employees and officers in other groups, you cannot volunteer for any political candidate, campaign, or partisan political group

  • Political management: You cannot be involved in the management of a political party, campaign, or partisan political group. For example, you cannot:

    • serve as a party official (e.g. committeeperson, ward leader, delegate) or poll worker;

    • be an officer of a partisan political group;

    • be a campaign manager for any candidate for elective office; or

    • supervise or direct campaign workers.

  • Political fundraising: You cannot be involved in political fundraising. This means you cannot ask for or collect political contributions. You also cannot help plan or promote political fundraisers, even if you are a friend or relative of the candidate. You cannot be the treasurer of a political committee.

  • Running for public office: Before you run for public office, you must first resign from City employment. This restriction applies even if you are on leave from your position. This resign-to-run rule also applies to elected positions on an Election Board, such as judge of elections and inspector.