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Randy Tyree slams JJ Jones over campaign photos
Posted By katie allison granju
A press release from the Tyree campaign this morning:
TO: ALL MEDIA
FROM: RANDY TYREE CAMPAIGN FOR SHERIFF
DATE: July 17, 2008
SUBJECT: J.J. Jones use of KCSD employees in campaign materials
Although there are lawful uses of county employees for the purpose of election campaigns, J.J. Jones’ website for sheriff appears to violate the policies of the Sheriff’s Merit System Council by including images of uniformed officers who are civil service protected.
The Merit System allows classified officers and employees to participate in campaigns, but they must be off-duty AND not in uniform or wearing any department insignia.
In several photos on the sheriff’s campaign website, including two attached, some classified employees identifiable with sheriff insignia and in uniform, are shown in the photos. Some are in the forefront and others are in the background, but the use of classified employees for such is verboten.
Some of the employees in the photos are non-classified and thus their use in campaign materials can be done at the discretion of the sheriff. But others are in uniform and are classified positions for the Sheriff’s Office.
“The power of the incumbent is extensive,” Randy Tyree said. “The Merit System policies are in place to ensure that sheriff’s employees are not misused in campaigns for political purposes.”
Former Sheriff Tim Hutchison used uniformed officers and multiple images of helicopters and cruisers with sheriff insignia in his campaign for reelection. He claimed it was OK because they were off-duty and his campaign reimbursed the county for the gas.
But the Merit System policies in Section 2.3 are clear and read, in part: “No classified person can appear publicly or in any advertising on behalf of a candidate while on duty or in uniform or wearing any insignia or other clothing which may associate the person with the Sheriff’s Department.”
Jones appears to be mimicking the way Hutchison ran his campaign – without regard for policies protecting classified employees from being misused in political races.
The images that violate Merit System policies should be removed from the website, http://www.jjforsheriff.com/.
“It is impossible to remove the element of coercion when an incumbent sheriff has employees appear in campaign materials,” Tyree said.
You can hear Tyree and Jones debate this, and other issues on Sunday’s edition of “Inside Tennessee” on WBIR.
Jul 17th, 2008
