(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) EMPLOYEE means an employee of the City of Fort Worth.
(2) OFFICER means any person appointed by the Mayor or City Council to a board, commission or committee established by charter, ordinance or state law, including hearing officers as defined in the Chapter 2, “Administration,” Article VII, “Code of Ethics” of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as amended.
(3) The following are deemed not to be officers:
a. Municipal judges; and
b. Members of an advisory board, task force or any other committee that functions only in an advisory or study capacity.
(b) Officers may not seek election to any public office or hold public office during their appointment. Any officer who becomes a candidate for nomination or election to any public office shall immediately forfeit his or her position held with the city.
(c) Nothing herein shall prohibit an employee from becoming a candidate for public office. No disciplinary action shall be taken against an employee, including terminating the employment of the employee solely because the employee becomes a candidate for public office. The employee must fulfill all the duties and responsibilities associated with his or her employment.
(d) Except as provided by subsection (e) below, officers and employees may solicit or receive subscription or contributions for any political party or for any political purpose while off duty. Officers and employees shall not be required to contribute to any political fund or person seeking a political office; and no person shall be removed, reduced in classification or salary, or otherwise prejudiced by refusing to do so.
(e) (1) The following employees are prohibited from taking an active part in another person’s campaign for city council:
a. Department heads;
b. Assistant city managers;
c. City attorney; and
d. City manager.
(2) Taking an active part includes, but is not limited to, making a political speech, making financial contributions, distributing campaign literature, writing a letter, signing a petition and actively seeking votes.
(f) No employee shall take an active part in any other person’s political campaign for an elective position while on active duty or in uniform.
(g) Employees may actively participate in referendum elections while off-duty. Employees may wear city-issued uniforms for an off-duty political activity related to a referendum election if the employee was required to wear the city uniform as part of his or her on-duty employment on the day of the political activity.
(h) A employee shall not, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt to induce any subordinate of the employee:
(1) To participate in an election campaign, contribute to a candidate or political committee, or engage in any other political activity relating to a particular party, candidate or issue; or
(2) To refrain from engaging in any lawful political activity.
(i) A general statement merely encouraging another person to vote does not violate subsection (h) above.
(j) Except as provided by subsection (e) above, nothing contained in this section shall affect the rights of officers and employees to support a political party, to act as a precinct chairperson, to vote as they choose in any election, to express their opinions on all political subjects and candidates, to publicly endorse candidates, to maintain political neutrality or to attend political meetings.
(Ord. 11921, § 2 (11), passed 4-18-1995; Ord. 17849, § 1, passed 10-23-2007; Ord. 18862-10-2009, § 1, passed 10-13-2009; Ord. 20934-09-2013, § 1, passed 9-17-2013)