"Article published Friday, July 27, 2007
Councilmen defend praise for candidate
Ludeman says pair violated ethics rule
By TOM TROY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Toledo councilmen Joe McNamara and Mike Craig yesterday rebuffed accusations from council President Rob Ludeman that they violated council ethics rules by bringing up the name of a political candidate during Tuesday's meeting.
It was not clear how either the charter or the city ethics policy applied. Council is not covered by the city employees ethics policy. And Charter Section 178 cited by Mr. Ludeman applies to employees "in the administrative service."
The city employees ethics policy says no city employee may campaign or raise money for a candidate while on duty or in the building."
City Charter sections;
Section 178 deals with Civil Service employees;
Section 178 of the Charter:
No person in the administrative service shall directly or indirectly solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party or political purpose whatsoever. No person shall orally, or by letter, solicit, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting, any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party from any person holding a position in the classified service. Any violation of this section shall operate to forfeit the officer or portion held by the person violating the same and shall render any such person ineligible to any municipal office or position for a period of one year.
172 Defines the Civil Servants;
The civil service of the City is hereby divided into the unclassified (not subject to the examination herein provided) and the classified service.
(1) The unclassified service shall include:
(a) Officers elected by the people.
(b) The City Auditor and the secretary and the auditing assistants to the City Auditor.
(c) Directors of departments, Commissioners, and other heads of divisions.
(d) Members of boards or commissions, and the chief administrative officers thereof.
(e) The Mayor
This doesn't apply to Craig and McNamara. I'm not an attorney, but I can read. Its obvious that this whole situation has the foul smell of Czartyism.
If they have glued and nailed everything down on the 22nd floor yet? I'd think OT would be ok to secure the furnishings and equipment. :-)