GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY Office of Government EthicsDarrin P. Sobin, Director THE LOCAL HATCH ACT Government Employees – Testing the Waters of Candidacy The Local Hatch Act (“LHA”) permits employees of the District Government to take an active part in political management or in political campaigns; provided, that those employees, among other prohibitions: SHALL NOT become a CANDIDATE for election to a partisan political office1. When do I officially become a candidate? The LHA defines Candidate as an individual who seeks nomination or election to any elective office in the District whether or not the person is elected. An individual is deemed to be a candidate by the LHA if the individual has received political contributions, made expenditures, or has consented to another person receiving contributions or making expenditures with a view to bringing about the individual’s nomination or election2. Can I form an Exploratory Committee before I become a candidate? The Ethics Act defines an Exploratory Committee as “any person, or group of persons, organized for the purpose of examining or exploring the feasibility of an individual's becoming a candidate for an elective office in the District.”3 So the answer is: YES. Theoretically, for purposes of the Ethics Act and the LHA, it is permissible for a government employee to HAVE an Exploratory Committee without necessarily being deemed a Candidate, but is not recommended that the employee CREATE it because of the risk involved that the employee will be deemed a candidate if any fundraising occurs (see below). This is an important distinction because becoming a Candidate for purposes of the LHA leads to the employee being required to resign his/her government position. REMEMBER THE RISK: DISTRICT EMPLOYEES MAY NOT ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING FOR A DISTRICT REGULATED ELECTION. Although the Ethics Act permits an employee to form an exploratory committee, the fundraising prohibition in the LHA continues to apply. As a result, no Exploratory Committee formed by an employee may engage in fundraising of any kind. An Exploratory Committee formed by an individual or a group other than the employee, but which acts on behalf of the employee, may engage in fundraising as long as: The District government employee for whom the Exploratory Committee has been formed: - Does not engage in fundraising for the Exploratory Committee; - Does not receive contributions or make expenditures regarding the Exploratory Committee; and - Does not coordinate or otherwise consent to another person receiving contributions or making expenditures regarding the Exploratory Committee. - If you have questions about the Local Hatch Act, please contact BEGA at (202) 481-3411. - IMPORTANT NOTE: If your position is paid in whole or in part by federal funds, be advised that you are also subject to the federal Hatch Act which does not even allow for an exploratory committee. [1] D.C. Official Code § 1-1171.02(a). [1] D.C. Official Code § 1-1171.01(2). [1] D.C. Official Code § 1-1161.01(22).
