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NOTICE and REMINDER
NOTICE and REMINDER
OF
PROHIBITED POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF JEFFERSON PARISH
Jefferson Parish Law, specifically Rule XV of the Personnel Rules, prohibits
essentially all forms of public, partisan, and preferential political activity
by employees in the Classified Service of Jefferson Parish**. The purpose of
this law is to protect employees against assessments for political purposes and
other involuntary, coerced political activities; and, to prevent political
activity on the part of employees from interfering with the efficiency of the
Parish service. This law applies to all classified employees.* We urge
you to get and read a copy of this law. Copies are available in the Personnel
Department Application Offices.
Certain "DO's" and "DO NOT's" are particularly
noteworthy:
DO NOT contribute, solicit, or accept money, service, or
anything else of value for any political purpose.** This includes the
purchase of tickets to socials, dances, parties, fund-raisers, etc.
DO NOT make any public statement in behalf of any candidate,
faction, or party. This includes written statements, signs, decals,
stickers, badges, etc. on your person or on property owned or rented by you
in whole or in part.
DO NOT become a candidate for election to any public political
office without resigning from your parish job. Leave of absence to run for
office is not permissible.
DO NOT become a member of any committee of a political party
or factional political organization, or take any active part in the
management or affairs of such an organization or in any campaign for any
candidate or political objective.**
DO NOT urge that any person be favored for employment or that
any employee be favored or discriminated against because of his or her
political beliefs or preferences.
All Parish Officials and Employees have a legal duty to report violations to
the Personnel Board, and the Personnel Board is legally obligated and authorized
to investigate suspected violations and to order appropriate disciplinary
action. Penalties may include dismissal from employment and a ban on future
employment eligibility.
On the other hand, we urge that you:
DO take advantage of all opportunities to familiarize yourself
with the positions and qualifications of all candidates and issues.** You
may discuss candidates and issues privately, and you may attend public
meetings, forums, and similar gatherings to listen and learn.
DO take an interest in the election process by casting your vote
for the candidate(s) and issue(s) of your choice.
DO exercise your right to serve as a commissioner or official
watcher at the polls if duly appointed.
If you have any questions, call the Personnel Department.
Beverly Williams, SPHR
PERSONNEL DIRECTOR
Personnel Department
Gretna, Louisiana
*Note: Ordinances 13233, 16397 and 18330 address
political activity prohibitions as they apply to unclassified employees,
administrative assistants to the Parish President, administrative
assistants to members of the Parish Council, members of advisory boards or
other unpaid bodies who are not parish employees, or organizations and
their employees or other persons who are engaged by the parish on a
contractual basis rather than as employees.
**Note: Rule XV of the Personnel Rules states in part, "...No
employee in the classified service of the Parish shall, directly or indirectly,
pay or promise to pay any assessment, subscription, or contribution to any
political organization or for any political purpose except where such payment
shall be dedicated and used exclusively for the support of issues involving
bonded indebtedness, tax referenda, or constitutional or charter amendments. No
employee in the classified service of the Parish shall solicit or take part in
soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution from any employee in
the classified service for any political organization or for any political
purpose. ...The support of issues involving bonded indebtedness, tax referenda,
or constitutional or charter amendments by employees in the classified service
shall not be prohibited. However, no public funds of, administered by, or under
the control of any Parish department, office, agency, special district, official
or employee shall be used to print material or otherwise to urge any elector to
vote for or against any proposition involving bonded indebtedness, tax
referenda, or constitutional or charter amendments; and, no printed material,
stationery, or official Parish letterhead, printed or purchased with
appropriated public funds, shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or
against any proposition involving bonded indebtedness, tax referenda, or
constitutional or charter amendments. This section shall not prohibit the use of
public funds for dissemination of factual information relative to a proposition
appearing on an election ballot.
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