Employees who Seek eLective office

The jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics over candidates for elective office is primarily through section 2-811, which prohibits the use of city property for private advantage.  The Civil Service Code has additional requirements of any employee who runs for elective office while employed with the City.  For questions about the Civil Service Code, employees should talk with their supervisors or contact the Department of Law.

City Employees Who Seek Elective Office

• Employees who run for Mayor, Council President, or City Council in the City of Atlanta must resign from city employment (Code section 114-2)(a))
• Employees who seek federal, state, and county office or elective office in another municipality must file a written notification with their department head (Code section 114-2(c)) and include
  • their intent to file as a candidate for office
  • the office they intend to seek
  • the government jurisdiction
  • the date of filing for candidacy 
  • the date of the election
• Employees may request a leave of absence and department heads may require employees to take a leave if the campaign is expected to interfere with the employee's duties or work hours (Code section 114-2 (b)); see also 114-422 (leave of absence without pay)
• Department heads may require a separation if the employee is elected and the department head determines that the elected office interferes with the employee's duties or hours of city employment (Code section 114-2 (d))

City Board Members or NPU Officers Who Seek Elective Office

• City board members and neighborhood planning unit officers or committee members who run for Mayor, Council President, or City Council in the City of Atlanta must resign from their city position on the date of their public announcement or filing as a candidate for office (Code section 114-2)(g))

No Use of City Property by Candidates

• City employees cannot campaign or work for political campaigns on the city's time
• City employees cannot use the city's email directory or city email addresses to solicit political support for their candidacy
• City employees cannot use city computers, telephones, vehicles, uniforms, calendars, copiers, or staff to promote their candidacy for elected office 

Prohibition on NPU Meetings as Political Forums

• Neighborhood planning unit meetings may not be used for political forums or campaigning for city, county, state, or federal elective office