State Sen. Linda Higgins quit her job Wednesday as an analyst for the city of Minneapolis, but wouldn't say if her decision was tied to questions raised about whether her candidacy for the Hennepin County Board might violate the federal Hatch Act.
"I don't think that I am affected by the act, but this is a way to ensure it's totally clear that I'm not," she said.
Higgins had been on leave since January from the city's problem properties unit, where her salary came in part from federal money. She worked for nearly seven years in the regulatory services department.
The Hatch Act generally bars federal workers or government officials who handle federal funds from running in a partisan election. While Hennepin County Board races are nonpartisan, Higgins won the DFL Party's backing for the Second District seat.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel in Washington said a candidate might turn a nonpartisan race into a partisan one if they seek or advertise a political endorsement.
