As used in this Section, "person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, organization, partner, agent, employee, unincorporated business, unincorporated organization, committee, or group, and includes but is not limited to persons in the classified service, persons in the unclassified service, public employees, public officials, government offices, government departments, government agencies, private citizens, political parties, candidates for public office, ballot issue campaigns, campaign committees, political action committees, and all staff, volunteers, and employees of political parties, candidates for public office, ballot issue campaigns, campaign committees, and political action committees.
No person shall knowingly violate any state or federal law or any rule adopted by the civil service board and approved by council in accordance with this section and section 90 of this charter which prohibits or regulates political activity on the part of or with respect to persons in the classified service.
No person shall knowingly solicit or participate or assist with soliciting by any means, whether directly or indirectly, any assessment, subscription, contribution, or payment from any person in the classified service to or for any political party, candidate for public office, ballot issue campaign, campaign committee, or any political action committee; provided, however, that the civil service board may adopt and submit to city council for approval rules which permit persons other than public employees of public officials who hold supervisory or elected positions in the city of lima to solicit or participate or assist with soliciting by means permitted by such rules such assessments, subscriptions, contributions, or payments from persons in the classified service to or for such ballot issues as defined and permitted by such rules.
In accordance with section 90 of this charter the civil service board shall adopt and submit to city council for approval rules which shall include, but not be limited to, provisions with respect to:
(A) members of the classified service soliciting political contributions;
(B) members of the classified service becoming candidates for or holding elective office;
(C) members of the classified service circulating and signing candidate or ballot issue petitions;
(D) members of the classified service being members of or serving as officers of political organizations;
(E) members of the classified service expressing political opinions while on duty;
(F) members of the classified service displaying campaign buttons or stickers on their clothing or personal items while on duty as public employees.
The Civil Service Board shall adopt no rule prohibiting members of the classified service from voting as they please; from, when not on duty as a public employee, expressing freely their political opinions; from requesting and voting the primary election ballot of a political party; from serving as a precinct poll worker or election official under the supervision of a county board of elections; from attending political meetings and rallies; from displaying political signs at their residences or other real property; from displaying political bumper stickers on their personal vehicles; from displaying, when not on duty as a public employee, campaign buttons or stickers on their clothing or personal items; or from making a contribution to any political party, candidate for public office, ballot issue campaign, campaign committee, or political action committee. (Amended 11-3-09)