Hudak v. Cleveland Civil Service Commission

The city of Cleveland discharged a civil service employee for violating a city charter prohibition against participation in political campaigns by becoming a candidate for city council. The city’s civil service commission upheld the discharge order. On the employee’s appeal pursuant to R.C. 2506.01, the common pleas court reversed the commission and directed the city to reinstate the employee with back wages.

The trial court interpreted the relevant charter provision to permit any political activity for non-partisan elections, which constitute all this city’s elections. We disagree and…