GOP Senate candidate brushes aside Hatch Act complaint

Senate District 28 candidate Rod Johnson on Thursday admitted to fellow Republicans that a complaint had been filed against him, an action he said "is with no merit."

A complaint was filed against the Cannon Falls man for allegedly violating the Hatch Act, which prevents some workers, including federal employees, from running for elected office.

Johnson, a former part-time rural mail carrier, said he resigned from the U.S. Postal Service in January to avoid any Hatch Act entanglements.

The relatively obscure law emerged in Minnesota politics last year when Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum withdrew his candidacy for governor. The act applied to Sviggum, a longtime legislator from Kenyon, since his scope of duties includes administering federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

"I was aware of it because of Sviggum," Johnson told the R-E. "As far as I'm concerned, we did it exactly by the book."

Johnson was later asked about the Hatch Act investigation by Goodhue County Republican Party Chairman Rick Voges during a candidate forum Thursday.

Addressing the 25 attendees, Johnson said he was "disappointed" last week when contacted by an official from the federal Office of Special Counsel, which investigates Hatch Act complaints.

"I can't imagine who would file a formal complaint against me that has no merit," Johnson told the group.

Johnson is one of three people vying for the Republican endorsement in the Senate District 28 race. He squares off next week against Red Wing Mayor John Howe and salesman Craig Livingstone at the endorsing convention in Lake City.

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