HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — When the standing Sheriff of Houston County endorsed a lieutenant for his seat in a county building, some people had questions afterward.
Sheriff Cullen Talton told 13WMAZ in September he is not running for re-election.
"It's time for me to hang it up," he said.
When Talton took the podium on Jan. 23 at Moulton's campaign rally, the sheriff said, "I'ma introduce a young man who's gonna try to take my job."
After the sheriff endorsed his lieutenant overseeing his narcotics division to fill his seat when he retires, people contacted 13WMAZ asking questions.
One of those: Was Matt Moulton on the job or not during the political rally at the sheriff's office?
We requested the time cards for Moulton and some other people who attended.
According to the records provided by the Houston County Sheriff's Office, Moulton was on annual leave for almost the entire week of Jan. 22, except for four hours that Monday.
"Because I had a lot going on with the campaign and making the public announcement that day, I took that time off work," Moulton said over the phone to 13WMAZ.
Tom Hall, the county attorney, said the Houston County Personnel Manual "applies to 'all employees covered by the merit system of Houston County.' This policy does not apply to constitutional officers or other elected officials, including, but not limited to, the Sheriff, Superior Court Clerk, and Tax Commissioner. Also, this policy does not apply to the employees of constitutional officers or other elected officials."
Article 7 Sections 6.C of the personnel manual states: "No employee in the personnel system shall, directly or indirectly, pay or promise to pay any assessment for political purposes, solicit or take part in soliciting for any political party or solicit or take part in soliciting any political assessment, subscription, contribution or service while on duty."
David Emadi, executive director of the Georgia State Ethics Commission, said, "I would say political assessment includes endorsement while on duty... [but] I would say that if he's taking leave, then he's not on duty."
The State Ethics Commission said they deal strictly with campaign finances at its offices and don't deal with other issues, like potential conflicts of interest.
However, Emadi noted a case they had in Gwinnett County a few years ago when a commissioner violated county ethics policies by campaigning on the taxpayer's dime during working hours.
"If your employees had been on leave if they had taken leave off, then they could do whatever they want, they can go on vacation, they can go veg out at home, they can go support a friend, or whatever," Emadi said.
Article 7 Section 6.d.4 of the personnel manual states: "No employee can campaign, or solicit contributions, or conduct any campaign-related business or matters while serving in the capacity of their employment with the county."
Moulton said he got permission from the sheriff to hold his endorsement rally at the sheriff's office.
"I asked him, and he said that it is a public building, and it is open to the public, and it was conducted in the lobby of the building, which is a public space, so there were no issues or laws that prohibited the announcement from taking place there," Moulton said.
Houston County Chairman Dan Perdue said under county policy, the sheriff has the authority to hold that event in that county building if they choose to.
Also running for sheriff of Houston County are former deputy Slate Simons, District Attorney Will Kendall, and longtime Little League leader Jimmy Dunn.