Sarasota Sheriff Election on August 18

[Media]

OGDEN, UTAH -- The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) determined that Terry Thompson, when he was chief deputy, violated the Hatch Act in his successful 2010 bid for Weber County Sheriff, but the office won't take action against him. OSC spokesperson Ann O'Hanlon said the OSC often issues a warning letter instead of taking enforcement action, if a Hatch Act violation is discovered after an individual has been elected to a partisan office.

The Hatch Act includes political activities of state and local government workers if they are employed by an agency that has programs financed in whole or in part by federal loans or grants. The complaint contended that Thompson, as chief deputy and candidate for elected office, was head of the sheriff's office Enforcement Division, which received federal funding. The OSC letter states Thompson directly supervised now-Chief Deputy Klint Anderson, who was responsible for several federally funded programs. The OSC concluded that Thompson did have duties associated with federally financed activities when he became a candidate for sheriff.

OSC Attorney Carolyn S. Martorana said Thompson was warned in a letter against future participation in prohibited political activity while employed in a Hatch Act-covered position: "OSC would consider such conduct a knowing and willful violation of the law that could result in his being prosecuted." Thompson confirmed he received the letter, but said he didn't violate the Hatch Act because the act's provisions are overly broad, adding it can be used in elections to keep law officers with supervisory experience from running for sheriff. He said, "Unfortunately, it becomes a political tool."

Full story:
https://www.standard.net/news/local/...a9f7dddf1.html

[Unregistered]

Kurt Hoffman won the sheriffs election:

https://results.enr.clarityelections...511/#/cid/0109