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Imfeld Withdraws from Race after Sheriff Questions Hatch Act violation
- Thread starter wrobert
- Start date
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Very interesting. What is Bill Imfeld's role with the local political party? It makes sense to me that you wouldn't want a Sheriff trying to intimidate people to vote for one particular party. If Mr Imfeld has some sort of role in a campaign other than his own, he may be screwed on this one. Live and learn.
I grew up in a small county where politics were very dirty, going back before I was born, and they still continue today, though not as bad in the last 20 years. There were many occasions where the people in the cemetery were voting, and not only once, but some voted twice. We actually had a local, Boss Hog if you will, who ran the County, even before he was ever elected to the office of state congressman. My grandpa went to vote one day, and there at the only voting box, was one the guys making sure everyone voted correctly. There have been some books written about much of it, but some things have still not changed, with the local Sheriff and Deputy persuading voters, by tipping them off to things such as undercover sting operations by DEA. I grew up in a town where lives were constantly threatened over politics. Much of it came to a halt when the FBI and others were called in to investigate a Senate election of a local. Later, my Granddad help rewrite some election laws for the state when he was in office. Times have changed a bit, but poliTRICKS is a still a very dirty, and sometimes deadly, business.
I grew up in a small county where politics were very dirty, going back before I was born, and they still continue today, though not as bad in the last 20 years. There were many occasions where the people in the cemetery were voting, and not only once, but some voted twice. We actually had a local, Boss Hog if you will, who ran the County, even before he was ever elected to the office of state congressman. My grandpa went to vote one day, and there at the only voting box, was one the guys making sure everyone voted correctly. There have been some books written about much of it, but some things have still not changed, with the local Sheriff and Deputy persuading voters, by tipping them off to things such as undercover sting operations by DEA. I grew up in a town where lives were constantly threatened over politics. Much of it came to a halt when the FBI and others were called in to investigate a Senate election of a local. Later, my Granddad help rewrite some election laws for the state when he was in office. Times have changed a bit, but poliTRICKS is a still a very dirty, and sometimes deadly, business.
Andy A
Beach Fanatic
Without knowing all the facts, it is too early to tell what is going on here. The Hatch Act of 1939 places certain restrictions on the political activity of federal, state and local officials and employees. If the race for Sheriff in Walton Co. is a non partisan race, I don't understand why Bill Imfeld cannot run.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
WaltonGOP, I'm curious to know with which section of the Hatch Act, are they charging Bill. Is it section 6?
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
The race isn't non-partisan. For some reason, all these offices run on a partisan ballot. I never understood why a tax commissioner or a clerk of courts had to be a dem or rep.
This is the first I've heard of Bill withdrawing, and I'm curious to hear the accusations. He is currently the Financial Officer for WalCo
Bill was running as a Republican. If he is being thrown out of the race, his website may soon disappear, but it is billimfeld.com
and this is the top of the home page:
BILL IMFELD
Republican Candidate for Sheriff of Walton County
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Anyone else want to clean up the office of Sheriff in WalCo? I'm guessing now, Ralph Johnson is running unopposed, and the job pays over $100,000 per year.
wrobert
Beach Fanatic
Bill is not active other than a member of a couple of the clubs. The only race he works on is his own. It appears the law does apply here. But it is such an antiquated law written to correct a problem in the thirties and forties. Now the unintended consequences are showing up.
wrobert
Beach Fanatic
The only other declared candidate is Jimmie Macon. He is the school truant officer. You hear rumours of others, the City Marshal of DeFuniak Springs is exploring the option of running, and some former employees, but that is all I ever hear.
BeachSiO2
Beach Fanatic
My simple understanding of the situation is that if you oversee federal grant dollars, or manage or supervise employees who oversee federal grants or appropriations than you are ineligible to run for elected office. I know that isn't the exact verbiage but pretty close. Considering he is the County's Financial Officer he would definitely be in that position. Unfortunately, it looks like a good candidate is having to withdraw from the race for doing what we hope he would do for the County, bring in federal dollars 
GoodWitch58
Beach Fanatic
He didn't have to withdraw; he could have resigned his present position. The key, as I understand it, is that one can not do both--at the same time--run for an office and manage federal monies.