Richard Wachsman v. City of Dallas

GARWOOD, Circuit Judge:

To what extent may a city regulate the political activities of its employees when city elections are conducted on a “nonpartisan” basis? Broadly stated, this is the principal issue we face in the present case.

Dallas fireman Richard Wachsman and the Dallas Police & Fire Action Committee (“Committee”) 1 requested injunctive relief against the City of Dallas (“City”) and the chiefs of the police and fire departments. 2 At issue were sections 16(b) and 16(c) of Chapter XVI of the City Charter of the City of Dallas, Texas, which provide:

“(b) To avoid undue influence of city…