Candidate must resign EMA job or quit Butler Co. sheriff's race

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has found Rick Sliger's candidacy for sheriff to be in violation of the federal Hatch Act.

Sliger, who is director of the Butler County Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency and one of three Republican candidates for sheriff, said he was notified of the Special Counsel's decision Tuesday.

"All of us who aspire to enforce the law must first be subservient to the law. Therefore, I will be carefully considering my options and will be taking the necessary steps to become compliant with the Hatch Act regulations," Sliger said in a statement faxed to the Daily American Republic Wednesday afternoon. He will announce his decision later.

Butler County commissioners requested Sliger to meet with them in a closed session Wednesday morning.

"Rick will have to decide if he remains in his job or withdraws from the sheriff's race," Presiding Commissioner Ed Strenfel said Wednesday afternoon. "He should let us know in the next day or so."

The commissioners contacted Johanna Oliver, an attorney in the Hatch Act Unit of the Special Counsel's Office.

"We learned there is no gray area," Strenfel said.

In Oliver's letter to Sliger, she noted the Butler County EMHSA receives an emergency management performance grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This grant passes through the Missouri state treasurer to Butler County and is then disbursed to the BCEMHSA.

"An employee, however, is covered by the restrictions of the Hatch Act if he has duties in connection with a program funded by a federal grant, even if the federal grant passes through another agency first," Oliver wrote. "Therefore, you are covered by the provisions of the Hatch Act. An employee covered by the Hatch Act may not be a candidate for public office in a partisan election."

Oliver then presented Sliger with his options.

"Rather than pursue disciplinary action against you at this time, we are providing you with an opportunity to immediately come into compliance with the law. You may withdraw your candidacy or resign from your employment with EMHSA," Oliver wrote. "Failure to pursue one of these actions could result in disciplinary action charges being brought against you before the Merit Systems Protection Board."

Oliver also told Sliger to notify the local election official (Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall) if he decides to withdraw from the sheriff's race. The deadline for a candidate to withdraw is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Deffendall has until May 27 to certify the Aug. 5 primary election ballot.

Sliger was told to provide evidence to the Special Counsel's Office of his withdrawal or resignation by May 26.

"Lastly, you should make a public announcement of your withdrawal and cease all campaign activities, including organizing or encouraging a writein candidacy; fund-raising, soliciting or accepting campaign contributions; appearing at campaign functions or meet and greets; having a campaign Web site; distributing campaign materials; and holding yourself out as a candidate," Oliver advised.

If Sliger withdraws as a candidate, only Charles Sisk, a retired Missouri Highway Patrol sergeant, will be left to challenge Sheriff Mark Dobbs.

But, if Sliger resigns as the EMHSA director, the commissioners will begin searching for a new director.