Sheriff race expands

[rapunzel]

Only non-incumbents that deal with federal dollars.

And that's basically every local government, law enforcement, and school employees. Federal loans and grants trickle down to everything these days. An assistant D.A. can't even run for D.A. anymore according to the latest OSC interpretation of the Hatch Act.

Clearly, we will have to decide who would make the best sheriff, and mount a covert write-in campaign for this person. If that person hears of our plans, he/she will have to disavow the write-in candidacy, in which case we will all just ignore his/her protests and write them in anyway.

Historically, what has been the background of candidates for sheriff?

 

[ShallowsNole]

It is county policy, not Hatch Act, that if you plan to run for the constitutional office that you work for, you have to resign, or at least be granted a leave of absence. I think that Patrick Pilcher and Gloria Gainey were granted a leave of absence to run for Property Appraiser, but that is because Mr. Fountain was not seeking re-election. Similarly, I think the tax collector employees who ran last time were granted leave since Mrs. Carter was retiring. Otherwise, rare is the constitutional officer that will grant you a leave of absence to run against him/her (in this case, him).

The Hatch Act does muddy things further, though. Many county employees do not handle federal funds, but we are the ones that don't plan to run for anything.

I do agree that all county races should be nonpartisan, though, because most folks who lived here 20 - 30 years ago were registered Democrats. Now, most of the same general populace is Republican. People can and do switch parties in order to give themselves the best chance to get elected (my uncle did). As far as Walton County races are concerned, being Republican or Democrat is no more descriptive of a person's beliefs and values than being Methodist or Baptist, or Gator or Seminole. For this reason, it's very important to research the candidates and vote for the person, as voting for party around here might well come back to bite you, or the county as a whole.

 

[Yahoodie]

Rick or anyone else working in local government can run for a partisan office, i.e sheriff's office; they just have to quit their jobs to do it.
As I understand, Rick has placed a call to the Hatch Act Group in Washington to get an official ruling on this situation. and then he will do whatever is necessary.

 

[wrobert]

Rick or anyone else working in local government can run for a partisan office, i.e sheriff's office; they just have to quit their jobs to do it.
As I understand, Rick has placed a call to the Hatch Act Group in Washington to get an official ruling on this situation. and then he will do whatever is necessary.

Great. The more the merrier. I understand the DeFuniak Springs City Marshal Michael Adkinson will be entering the race before the end of the week. So it looks like another round of elections in which the pool of candidates will be overwhelming. It really adds something to the race, considering that Florida does not have a second primary any longer.

 

[Yahoodie]

I just found out that Rick has contacted the Hatch Act Unit in Washington and has requested an advisory ruling. The investigation for this ruling can take up to a few months to be complete. A decision has to be made on whether or not Rick is working on any projects currently funded by a Federal Grant.
Rick is doing everything he can to stay in the election and stay employed as long as possible. Some say this is only a rich man's game and Rick hopes to prove otherwise. He can be contacted at Post Office Box 883, Freeport, Fl 32439 and will soon have a website available.

 

[wrobert]

Rick is doing everything he can to stay in the election and stay employed as long as possible. Some say this is only a rich man's game and Rick hopes to prove otherwise. He can be contacted at Post Office Box 883, Freeport, Fl 32439 and will soon have a website available.

Personally, I do not see how the Hatch Act works on Rick. Unless he has some special duties. But I would think that the Florida resign to run statute clearly applies. But again, not being an election attorney, I have to base my thoughts on the information I do have, so it certainly could be incorrect.

 

[scooterbug44]

What am I missing?

If a deputy is ineligible because he is working on projects w/ Federal funding, why wouldn't his boss, the Sheriff, also be ineligible?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Maybe they figure that the currently elected officials are already crooks, so they don't matter. lol. Seriously, the politicians are always changing the rules to work around their own preference, ex -- do not call laws don't apply to politicians. Some tax laws were also created for politicians. I'm sure there are many examples of laws not applying to elected officials.

 

[scooterbug44]

I keep forgetting that logic and common sense have no place in politics because of all the loopholes and exceptions .

 

[wrobert]

What am I missing?

If a deputy is ineligible because he is working on projects w/ Federal funding, why wouldn't his boss, the Sheriff, also be ineligible?

If he is elected. One of a list of exemptions I have been told.