Members of the board shall be persons in sympathy with the application of merit principles to public employment. No member of the board shall be employed by or be an elected or appointed official of the city, or be a member of any local, state or national committee of a political party or an official or member of a committee in any partisan political club or organization. Nor shall any member hold or be a candidate for an elective office. (1980 Code § 2-242)