LTC 255-2002 CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez i ~
City Manager
POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS
Date: November 4, 2002
Because today is election day, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind you that
City employees are governed by a policy that does not allow any employee to use City time
or resources to engage in political activities. While most employees are free on their own
time to participate in the political process, my senior staff is bound by a code of ethics that
restricts their participation in any political process at any time.
These policies are intended to assure that appointed staff is not involved in nor attempts to
affect political races. Very often employees have access to or could provide information
that if not given to all candidates could be an influencing factor in a local race. As you get
further away from the local races, an employees ability to affect a campaign in lessened
and maintaining neutrality becomes the more important factor. Maintaining impartiality and
neutrality is particularly important at the senior levels as my staff is expected to have and to
be able to maintain a relationship with any facet of the community. In order to be able to
maintain relationships it is important that employees be seen as open to all views and not
become associated with any one perspective or political agenda.
I appreciate your understanding and support in maintaining our employees neutrality in
the political process in the City of Miami Beach.
Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or need any further information.
JMG\ri
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