Local 1176 PAC is allowed to endorse candidates

The PAC requested a determination in writing from the commission.
BOARDMAN -- A month after the general election, a political action committee of the township firefighters union got a go-ahead to endorse candidates.
Members of Firefighters Local 1176 of the International Association of Firefighter formed the PAC earlier this year and sent letters to trustee candidates inviting them to a forum.
They had considered endorsing candidates or making monetary or physical campaign contributions.
The township civil service commission met and discussed the issue in executive session and referred the matter to the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office.
Commission members declined to discuss the specifics of the opinion they sought from the prosecutor's office because the issue was discussed behind closed doors. They would only say that it had to do with whether there was a violation of civil service rules and regulations.
Restricted by law
Firefighters are civil service employees and their partisan political activities are restricted under civil service law.
The commission reconvened and took no action. Members said they received the prosecutor's opinion but wouldn't divulge its contents.
The firefighters PAC conducted its forum but requested a determination in writing from the commission about whether the endorsements could proceed.
That letter came Dec. 8, a month after the general election in which two trustee candidates, Kathy Miller, an incumbent, and newcomer Robyn Gallitto, were elected.
The PAC didn't issue endorsements or make contributions before the election.
"Since the Boardman Township Trustee race is nonpartisan, your endorsement and/or financial and/or physical contribution to one or more candidates' in our opinion does not violate the current Boardman Township Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations," the letter said.