2.05.200 Political activity.
The following limitations shall apply to political activity:
A. Departments, boards, and commissions of municipal government shall not:
1. Expend municipal funds for the support, opposition or endorsement of candidates for any elected government office.
2. Expend municipal funds for paid advertisement which advocates or promotes a particular position, or solicits members of the public to advocate or promote a particular position, on legislation or other action pending before the council.
3. Permit an administrative division of municipal government to endorse or oppose candidates for elected federal, state, municipal or other local office even if such endorsement does not include expenditure of funds. This prohibition applies to municipal employees while on duty and to the use of municipal property or facilities in a manner not made available to members of the public.
4. Authorize that money held by the municipality be used to influence the outcome of an election, except as permitted by state law under AS 15.13.145.
5. Actively campaign or prepare, publish, broadcast, or distribute by any means material of a partisan nature on any ballot measure, including referendums, initiatives, bond issues or other special elections.
B. Subject to restrictions in AS 15.13.145 on the use and expenditure of municipal funds to influence the outcome of a ballot proposition or question, the city manager may designate in advance, in writing, one (1) or more executive employees to appear before the council, appointed public bodies of the municipality, community councils, civic organizations, and media representatives in support of or in opposition to any ballot measure coming before the voters in a municipal election. The designated executive employees shall be selected from among the employees with principal responsibility for carrying out policies and programs relevant to the ballot measure.
C. The limitation against dissemination of partisan materials on bond measures does not apply to municipal employees asked to assist an elected official in the preparation of ballot measures or to respond to inquiries from an elected official concerning any ballot measure.
D. A municipal employee shall not serve as a member of the Bethel city council or in elective office of the state, federal, or another local government. A municipal employee who is elected to one (1) of these offices shall resign immediately from municipal employment. This section is not intended to modify AS 29.20.630 or prohibit an employee from being a member of the Lower Kuskokwim School Board or Advisory School Board.
E. For purposes of this section, public safety volunteers, hired consultants or contractors are not considered municipal employees (BMC 3.64.060). [Ord. 19-19 § 2, 2019; Ord. 18-16 § 2; Ord. 13-04 § 2.]