Here's an interesting question, raised by a reader after perusing the post on the STAND BY YOUR MAN mailer: Does the mailer constitute a violation of the Federal Hatch Act by Assemblyman Green and Mayor Robinson-Briggs? And what would that mean?
The question is raised because neither is running for office, yet the mailer features an "important Election Day message from Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Assemblyman Jerry Green" urging recipients to vote for the Democratic ticket.
The mailing piece was paid for by the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, though the County candidates are featured more prominently than the Council candidates. I suppose a cynical person would wonder whether the County actually paid for the piece.
But back to the Hatch Act question.
There is a recent New Jersey case -- concerning Mayor Lorenzo Langford of Atlantic City -- that was settled with the US Office of Special Counsel in March of this year.
The relevant passage from the Counsel's release --
"The Hatch Act restricts the political activity of individuals principally employed by state, county, or municipal executive agencies who have duties in connection with programs financed in whole or part by federal loans or grants. A covered employee may not use his official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election [...]Are they 'Hatched' or not? What do you think?
"The penalty for a proven violation of the Act by a state or local employee is removal of the employee from his/her position by the state/local agency and debarment from state/local employment for the following 18 months or if removal is not effectuated, forfeiture of federal grant funds by the state/local agency in an amount equal to two years of the salary of the employee in addition to the 18-month debarment."
Drop me a line using the COMMENTS feature at the bottom of this post.
-- Dan Damon
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3 comments:
No doubt,it is a gross violation. And Jerry Green continuesin his violations.At the Senior Citizens Forum he had the unmitigated gall to "SUM" UP, AS IT WERE, BY DIRECTING the attendees by talking againt the contending party and using tactics in his speech about who not to vote for, etc.he holds public office, has influence over jobs that people hold, and is known to intimidate by reminding of the benefit he has bestowed.Conclusion:obey or he will take you out(of the job).
There's only one way to find out. www.osc.gov has an online form for complaints of Hatch Act violations.
http://www.osc.gov/documents/forms/osc13.pdf
If someone has information other than the mailer, let's fill it out.
If a loop hole is what we need to remove the Green/Briggs Team, then let's explore, they obviously don't care about Plainfield only themselves and his tactics of control and fear are a reminder of days long ago. I moved to Plainfield, because things WERE going in the right direction. Not so sure anymore....
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