Tonight's Council Committee meetings

I attended the CEDC and Administration & Appointments committees tonight. I note that the long awaited personnel code contains the same language as the Charter. I believe that this language is illegal on the basis of equal protection and prior restraint constitutional issues, beside being illogical. It states that only part timers and elected officials can actively campaign ( out side of work) for political office . "......appointed officials and employees, or those seeking office on their own behalf, excluding temporary summer employees and elected officials, shall not take an active part in political campaigns for candidates for City office." beside the lack of definition of active, and the difficult wording ( employees seeking office on their own behalf shall not take an active part in political campaigns for City office) seems to be internally inconsistant. It allows you to be a candidate on your own behalf, that's pre-supposed in the words, but then tells you you can't be what it just addressed you as. Does it mean you can't participate in someone else's campaign, or does it refer to your own? And, on what basis? What is the history of this?

Also, I have been told that this has not been enforced previously when a couple of city employees ran for school board positions, which they won and served. So why do we include this in the proposed personnel code ordinance. I say, "take it out."