Comments on: Should Escambia County Employees Be Required To Resign To Run For Political Office?

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:22:28 +0000

Just think, you could force someone you don’t like to resign by declaring them to be a candidate. That would have to include incumbents. Who, oh who should we nominate first?

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 00:37:28 +0000

No they should not be made to retire/resign/quit. They are just running for office they have not won the election. Now once they win then the boss they currently have should have a policy in place.

By: pencil

pencil — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 04:55:22 +0000

The more rules you have like this, the more UNLIKELY every day people will be able to run for office. This is a slippery slope issue and we are once again repeating history.

These types of restrictions are what kept the good old boys running local government for so long because only they could afford it. Any barrier to voting. Any barrier to holding office moves us back to a time where the voices of the many meant next to nothing.

What’s next, job status . . . . income . . . land ownership? Pass this and its coming.

By: MtnDewey

MtnDewey — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:47:28 +0000

i think all of bocc should resign right now.

By: Jim Goolsby

Jim Goolsby — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 23:37:03 +0000

yes they must resign prior to running, No if’s and or buts.

By: J

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:37:46 +0000

100% opposed to this. The existing rules prevent campaigning on the clock.

Plenty of good people who may be uniquely qualified will opt out to prevent turmoil in their private lives. Support democracy and do not limit the pool of candidates.

By: Denny

Denny — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:29:42 +0000

I agree with Kim. If Commissioners want “resignation before running,” they better to include themselves when they want another term; they’ve been getting fat County paychecks for a part-time job when they run.

Betcha they’d exempt themselves from what they want all other County employees to do.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 19:04:48 +0000

This could lead to a really unfair playing field for candidates. For example, a person who really needs to stay employed vs. one with vast personal financial resources or someone who is not required to quit his/her job, is at an immediate disadvantage. Shame on us if we disregard talent by giving an extra advantage to candidates who can afford to be unemployed.

By: Carolyn Bramblett

Carolyn Bramblett — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:33:30 +0000

It is a stupid suggestion. Who quits one job to seek another? You work when you are paid to work and campaign on your own time.

By: William Lingo

William Lingo — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:27:56 +0000

@Jeff Bergosh, as one of your constituents, I want you to know that I do NOT think that this is a good idea or good for our county. This ordinance is designed to limit competition and keep people from running for office. Particularly, those in the county that do not have extra finances that will give them the liberty to quit their job to make a difference in our county as a prospective representative.

This ordinance should NOT be allowed to pass, if the BOCC does this, it’s a sign that they don’t care about the citizens of this county who are not as financially blessed as the commission and are out to keep them down and out of county government. This is exactly what our founders fought against.

There is no reason to pass such an ordinance, but the BOCC does have the right to not allow county employees to stump for office while on the county dime, but what they do during their off time is up to them. Taking their livelihood away simply for wanting to run for local office is something that I would expect from a communist nation, not in the the U.S.A.