Silverthorne Running Partisan Campaign While Employed by Federal Government, in Violation of Hatch Act

For Immediate Release:

October 19, 2009

DENVER - Today, Colorado Ethics Watch asked the federal Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate whether Meghann Silverthorn violated the Hatch Act by running a partisan political campaign for the Douglas County, Colorado School Board while employed by the Department of Defense, Defense Contract Management Agency.

Although Douglas County School Board races are traditionally nonpartisan, Ms. Silverthorn injected partisan affiliation into the race by publicly touting her endorsement from the Douglas County Republican Party and by accepting direct contributions from the Douglas County Republican Party.

The Federal Hatch Act prohibits employees of the federal government from running as a candidate for election to a partisan political office. According to longstanding OSC policy and practice, federal employees who inject partisanship into otherwise nonpartisan state elections violate the Hatch Act. The OSC has specifically found that advertising the endorsement of a political party and using a political party’s resources to promote a campaign, indicate that the election is a partisan one.

Ethics Watch Director Chantell Taylor stated, “The purpose of the Hatch Act is to ensure federal employees do their jobs without regard to partisan politics. Ms. Silverthorn’s open allegiance to the Douglas County Republican Party calls into question her ability to fairly and effectively perform her duties as a federal employee.”

If the OSC finds Silverthorn indeed violated the Hatch Act, she would face a minimum penalty of suspension without pay for 30 days from her employment with the Department of Defense.