The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has filed a complaint for disciplinary action against an independent Jefferson County sheriff candidate that accuses him of violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from being candidates, including independents, in partisan elections.
James Murry is employed as a maintenance mechanic for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and "filed notice of candidacy in defiance of repeated advice from both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Office of Special Counsel that the Hatch Act prohibited him from running while he is a federal employee," according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
"Mr. Murry was notified that he must resign from federal employment. He refused to do so, or to drop out of the race," the news release said. "Moreover, he hosted a fundraiser in support of his campaign even though the Corps of Engineers had circulated regular notices to employees about the Hatch Act's restrictions on political activity."
A message left for Murry was not immediately returned Friday.
A message left for Nick Schwellenbach, senior communications specialist for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, was also not returned Friday afternoon.
Murry is running against Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson, who said Friday that he continues to focus on his campaign, not Murry.
"All I'm doing is running a clean campaign," said Robinson, a Democrat. "We should all follow the rules, including Mr. Murry. If he is violating the law, he should own up to it. I can't believe he would jeopardize his job to run for election."
In March, Murry filed a complaint with the Arkansas Ethics Commission against Robinson and won. Robinson received a letter of caution and a $100 fine in June for using government-owned equipment to help distribute tickets to a campaign fundraiser.
Robinson said he "owned up to my mistakes, paid my fine and moved forward. If you are doing something wrong, you have to own up to it. I did that, I admitted I was wrong and am doing the best job I can as sheriff."
According to the Office of Special Counsel, federal employees face suspension, removal from employment, debarment from federal service or a civil fine for a Hatch Act violation.
State Desk on 10/25/2014