Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 3.52 Political Activities

County employees are encouraged to vote in local, state and national elections and to be active in the political party of their choice. Participation in political activities outside of working hours is generally compatible with county service.

Involvement by county employees in county elections may, however, create conflicts which are disruptive of department morale and county government generally. The board of supervisors finds that disruption often occurs where an employee runs against his or her department head for the position held by the department head. It is therefore important that a county employee who becomes a candidate for the position held by his or her department head either resign employment or take appropriate leaves of absence.

It is further the wish of the board of supervisors that employees and employee organizations not engage in political activities for the promotion of a particular candidate to head a county department or to serve in the office of county supervisor. The board has not, however, attempted to enact any specific regulations in connection with this latter matter.

(Prior code § 24800)

County employees shall be required to comply with the following regulations relating to political activities:

A. A county employee who declares himself or herself to be, or is nominated as, a candidate for the office held by his or her department head, and who does not resign his or her position, shall request a leave of absence for a period of at least thirty (30) days immediately preceding and including the day of any election in which the employee opposes his or her department head. Employees who are candidates for national, state or local offices are encouraged to request leaves of absence from county employment to campaign for election. County employees who become candidates shall file a statement of intent with regard to leave plans with the board of supervisors within one week after the final filing date for the office for which they intend to campaign.

B. No county employee shall, during the hours when he or she should be discharging the duties of his or her position, engage in political activity for the purpose of promoting his or her own election or that of any other person, to an office or employment, or for the purpose of promoting the passage or defeat of a ballot measure.

C. No county officer or employee shall use his or her official influence to coerce political action or to solicit political contributions from fellow officers and employees.

D. County employees may at no time engage in political activities while in official uniform. No button, sign, insignia advocating the election of a candidate or the passage or defeat of a ballot proposition may be worn on a county uniform or be placed on county-owned property.

E. No county officer or employee shall use a county-owned vehicle, or claim mileage for operation of a privately owned vehicle, for transporting himself or herself or another to a political activity in which the employee intends to participate. This section shall not apply to the sheriff or any county officer or employee on twenty-four (24) hour emergency standby.

(Prior code § 24801)

Any county employee violating any of the regulations of this chapter shall be subject to disciplinary action brought by the board of supervisors.

(Prior code § 24802)