Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN, Utah (AP/KSL News) -- Democrats claim Ogden's police chief has continued to campaign for the state Senate while running the police force-- despite being told he can't do both.
Federal law prohibits political activity by state or local employees if they are primarily employed by an agency that gets federal loans or grants.
That law applies to Jon Greiner, a Republican running for the Senate District 18 seat, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said in a letter.
Greiner said he had stopped campaigning last week while he reviewed his options, but Democrats dispute that claim because Greiner's fliers were still arriving in mailboxes during that time. His attorney is asking the Special Counsel office to reconsider.
"The voters of my district should not be denied the opportunity to choose the candidate whom they feel will best represent their views," Greiner said in a prepared statement.
The Office of Special Counsel could prosecute Greiner and force him to resign as police chief. He would be allowed to keep his Senate seat if elected.
Greiner defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Dave Thomas, South Weber, in the primary election. Messages left with Greiner's Democratic opponent, Stuart Reid, were not immediately returned.
State Democratic Party spokesman Jeff Bell said Greiner can appeal all he wants, but until the Office of Special Counsel changes its ruling Greiner is violating federal law.
"It seems to me that the police chief should have to know he has to obey all of the laws all of the time and not just the ones he finds convenient," Bell said.
The general election is Nov. 7.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
