Republican Candidate may have to withdraw

J H Rivers is running for the District Three seat on the Wise County Board of Supervisors. There is a problem though, he works for the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Enter the Hatch Act.

The federal Hatch Act, which prevents federal employees from participating in partisan elections, might apply to Rivers. If the Office of Special Counsel determines that it does, Rivers, a Republican, will have to withdraw from the race for the District Three seat on the Wise County Board of Supervisors.

My gut feeling is they will rule against Rivers, leaving the Republicans searching for a new candidate.

According to Wise County Registrar Tom Chester, if the Office of Special Counsel’s findings result in Rivers’ withdrawal from the race, the local Republican party will have until 60 days before the election to nominate another candidate. (LINK)