With Gainesville City Commission elections approaching in March, City Manager Russ Blackburn is asking employees to avoid city politics.
Blackburn sent out a memo this week requesting that employees “refrain from publicly supporting candidates for public office.”
“I believe it is in the best interest of both the city and individual employees to present an appearance of neutrality and impartiality in these matters,” Blackburn continued. “That being said, as an individual, each employee retains all rights and obligations of citizenship provided in the Constitution and laws of the state and the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
After the request, Blackburn did explain some prohibited activities. Employees cannot use their position to attempt to influence a race, take part in any political activity while working or use any city resources or equipment to take part in a campaign.
It’s Blackburn’s practice to send out a similar request via memo during each election cycle.