Committee Reviews Campaigning Policy

— The Washington County Personnel Committee began Monday considering changing policy that allows nonelected employees to take unpaid leaves of absence to campaign for public office.

The county’s policy allows employees to use accrued vacation time or be granted unpaid time off when seeking any public offices. The committee reviewed similar policies in Springdale and Benton County.

Justice of the Peace Rex Bailey wants the Quorum Court to remove the option taking unpaid time off because he believes the policy is unfair, he said.

Bailey, a Republican, referred to this year’s race for county clerk that vetted two nonelected county employees from each political party and also an employee under county prosecutor John Threet’s supervision.

Ann Upton, a Democratic county clerk candidate and former employee, took time off this summer to campaign for office. Her opponent Becky Lewallen, a Republican working in the county clerk’s office and endorsed by County Clerk Karen Combs Pritchard, remained working through the election.

Lewallen won the race. Bailey said after the meeting he would have addressed the issue if Lewallen was a Democrat and Upton a Republican.

George Butler, county attorney, told the committee the policy does not apply for attorneys in the prosecutor’s office because they are state employees. The policy also does not apply for full-time elected officials, he said.

Lindsi Huffaker, human resources director, told the committee granting unpaid leaves of absence is determined by each elected official, such as the county clerk, county judge or sheriff. Unpaid time off can be granted for virtually any reason and happens frequently, she said.

The county adopted the current policy for political time off in 2000 after the recommendation from the county’s risk management attorney, said Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison, committee chairwoman.

Justice of the Peace Rick Cochran said the county should require an employee to first take their vacation time before taking unpaid time off.

Quorum Court members discussed the issue for almost an hour in a meeting filled with what-ifs. The committee tabled the issue in order for Huffaker and the county’s Job Evaluation/Salary Administration Program Committee to draft a policy based on Monday’s discussion.

Upcoming Events