CP-012: Employees Seeking Public Office

The Commission does not believe that it would be in the best interest of TPWD for any employee to continue working for TPWD after becoming a candidate for any partisan public office, nor would it be considered good policy for employees of TPWD to retain their position while running for partisan public office due to the possible political conflicts and reflections that might be cast upon TPWD with the community.

The Commission has therefore resolved that TPWD employees who desire to become candidates for any partisan public elective office shall resign from their position prior to or at the time of announcing their candidacy.

Nothing in this policy prohibits an employee from seeking or holding a non-partisan position on the governing bodies of school districts, cities, towns, or other local governmental districts as provided by law unless the employee’s salary is completely paid for by federal funds (5 U.S.C. §1502(a)(3)). If TPWD employees serve as members of these governing bodies, they may not receive a salary for that service (Texas Constitution Art. XVI, §40(b)).