Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 1299 - Political Activities of City Employees (Repealed by Ord 1440) CITY O F TUK WILA WASHINGTON u7 �j ORDINANCE NO. 1 v AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, REGULATING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON. WHEREAS, it is important for the welfare of the residents of the Cith of Tukwila to have a City Council and Mayor able to perform their duties free from undue influence or pressure, and WHEREAS, one of the functions of the City Council and of the Mayor is to budget for, and regulate, the salaries and other terms of employment of City of Tukwila employees, and WHEREAS, the objectives of the City Council are: (1) The fostering of governmental efficiency such that employees can perform their jobs without being pressured to support specific Council or Mayoral candidates or to inter- pret regulations favorably for supporters of such candidates; (2) The fostering of public confidence in governmental integrity such that neither Council Mem- bers nor the Mayor will be preceived to be biased in making decisions in order to favor employees or employee groups who lent them support in a campaign, but instead will be perceived to be making their independent judgments for the wellbeing of the public as a whole; (3) To prevent incumbent Council Mem- bers or the Mayor or their opponents, from drawing upon organized employee groups to provide a campaign "machine (4) To allow employee performance and advancement to be judged without regard to prior political activity. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Political Activities. A. No City employee shall use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election for a position on the Tukwila City Council or for the position of Mayor of Tukwila. B'.' An employee takes an active part whenever he or she acts on behalf of, takes direction from, or works for a candidate or campaign organi- zation, or where the employee is involved in distributing literature or mater- ials prepared by and on behalf of a candidate or campaign organization. The following are examples intended to provide guidance in distin- guishing between permissible and impermissible activities: It is not a violation of this ordinance to: 1. Express a verbal or written opinion to fellow employees, neighbors or citizens about a Council or Mayoral candidate, except while on duty or in uniform. 2. Talk to a candidate regarding campaign issues. 3. Attend meetings, which are open to the public generally, held by a candidate and ask questions of the candidate at such meeting. 4. Post a campaign sign in the employee's residence or yard. It is a violation of the proposed ordinance to: 1. Go door -to -door endorsing or opposing a candidate as a member of a campaign organization, under the direction of that organization, or on behalf of such organization. 2. Prepare campaign signs or literature on behalf of or for a campaign. 3. Speak on behalf of a candidate at a rally organized by a campaign. 4. Attend of participate in a, strategy planning meeting of a campaign organization. 5. Express verbal or written opinions about a Council or Mayoral candidate while on duty or in uniform. C. Nothing in this section shall prevent an employee from fully exercising those rights to participate in political activities granted by the provisions of RCW 41.06.250. Section 2. Penalties. A. The violation or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is declared to be a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding three hundred fifty dollars ($350), in ad- dition to any other penalties authorized by law. B. The City, through the authorized agents, may initiate appropriate civil action against any person who violates or fails to comply with any pro- vision of this chapter. C. Any employee whose conduct is determined by the Mayor to be in violation of this chapter may be terminated from employment and /or temporarily suspended with loss of pay up to and including thirty (30) days by the Mayor. D. Any contract or transaction which is the subject of an official act or action of the City in which there is an interest prohibited by this chapter or which involves the violation of a provision of this chapter, shall be voidable at the option of the City. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a regular meeting thereof this /CJ day of 1983. In accordance with R.C.W. 35A.12.130, Mayor Van Dusen has elected to allow this ordinance to become valid without his approval. Mayor Gary L. Van Dusen ATTEST: a>"e/ Cty eG Approved as to Form b LJ City Dan Woo Published Record Chronicle September 30, 1983 la. Bellevue in ordinance_ lid va, court rules- OLYMPIA (AP) 'A .Bellevue ordinance. prohibiting city ees from participating' -in City Council races is invalid, Washing tdn's Supreme Court ruled yester- day In a brief order signed by Chief Justice William H. Williams, the court also issued an injunction against enforcement of the code. The city's firefighters union said the code •violated laws grant ing public employees the right to participate in most political activi- ties, as well as constitutional free speech and equal protection guar antees. SPECIAL TUNA .1.25 9 9 lb FRES r