Alfred Francia and Gennaro Ferrara, and Cross-Appellants v. Patrick M. White, Individually and as Sheriff of Sandoval County, and Cross-Appellee

WILLIAM E. DOYLE, Circuit Judge.

This is a § 1983 civil rights action in which the plaintiffs, who were deputy sheriffs in Sandoval County, New Mexico, allege that they were terminated from their employment by the defendant, who was elected sheriff in November 1976; that the reason for their termination was that he was a Republican and that they were Democrats; that each of them had supported the defendant’s Democratic opponent in the November 2, 1976 general election. Plaintiffs asked the court to enjoin the defendant from conditioning employment in the sheriff’s office upon the plaintiffs’…