Question regarding an election tampering problem -

[guruoo]

Would it be considered election tampering for
the employer of the wife of a candidate
for office to threaten to fire the wife
the minute their husband files papers to run?

Any attorneys out there?

BTW: The candidate is a local, well respected, politically active Democrat,
and recent two term office holder in local government.

[elehhhhna]

1. Probably not. Odds are it does not violate employment law either...

if you're in an "emplyment at will" state. Could make for an ugly local headline, though...and a job offer from a sympathetic liberal.

[AllegroRondo]

2. Tell her to go public - and quit her job.

I'm sure the local media would LOVE this story.
And if the employer is threatening to fire over something like this, she shouldnt want to work there anyway.

[guruoo]

4. See my other post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2380729&mesg_id=2381483

[Orangepeel]

8. is there a rival paper in a neigboring town or a larger city paper

read by the locals? One of them might enjoy the story

[guruoo]

9. That time will come, for sure, but,,,

we want to explore legal options first.
Election tampering is a violation of federal law,
Quite frankly, I want that first story to include a photo
of the guilty being frog-marched out of their offices.

BTW: We also have documented evidence of harassment
of the wife that is directly related to a previous,
sucessful campaign.

[guruoo]

3. It's not that simple

Wifey is a lifestyles section (no politics)reporter for the
local Gannett newspaper.
Employment options are limited, since there's only one newspaper in town.
It's likely that the newspaper is intending to endorse my guy's
opponent, and the threat intended to eliminate the opposition.
This is a 'right to work' state, but I'm not sure that
law would apply in this unique situation.

[guruoo]

5. BTW: They had no problem with it three months ago

when she first told the boss hubby was going to
run for office. It became a problem the very day their
"favored candidate" filed to run for the very same office.
Now do you see where the 'election tampering' fits in?

[elehhhhna]

6. document everything. EVERYTHING. and call the DOL for info.

[Orangepeel]

7. it isn't election tampering

it might be grounds for a lawsuit, given that the newspaper was okay with her working there when they first found out about her husband

[guruoo]

10. They said OK when he was considering running, then

reniged after he actually picked up his papers to run.
They said if he turns his papers in, she's fired.