Wayne Livesay said he?s ready for a political brawl.
Now that he?s announced his retirement as Howard County police chief, Livesay, 54, said he is braced to take on his opponents in the County Council primary this fall.
“I?ve never backed down from a tough fight,” he said in an interview Monday.
Livesay, a Republican, is vying for the westernmost County Council seat, District 5.
Backers of Greg Fox, Livesay?s Republican opponent, have questioned whether the chief violated the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits local government employees who oversee federal funds from campaigning in partisan elections.
Livesay said he received an e-mail Friday from the federal Office of Special Counsel, telling him that Fox?s backers were right: Livesay must resign from either his job or his County Council campaign by June 2 to avoid violating the Hatch Act.
Livesay said Monday that the e-mail didn?t force his hand.
He said he informed his staff of his intention to retire early Friday, shortly before receiving the e-mail, and the correspondence came “coincidentally” on the same day.
Livesay would not release the federal e-mail.
David Keelan, treasurer for a slate of Republican candidates that includes Fox, pushed the issue on his blog, http://hocomd.wordpress.com.
“It?s better late than never,” Keelan said of Livesay?s decision to retire.
Fox declined comment.
Livesay accused his opponents of being politically motivated in raising the Hatch Act issue.
Republican Jim Adams, who is also seeking the seat, said Livesay is the front-runner in the race, and his opponents should run positive campaigns.
“I think the bloggers are playing this [Hatch Act violation] up, and I really believe that we should give [Livesay] a fair shake,” Adams said.
Democrat Don Dunn, the only Democrat seeking the westernmost County Council seat, said Livesay “did the right thing” by retiring.
“In his responsibility for upholding the law, he didn?t have much of a choice,” Dunn said.
Police chief replacement
» Victoria Goodman, spokeswoman for County Executive James Robey, said Monday that Robey will announce his selection to replace Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay as acting police chief next week. The appointment will come from inside the Howard County Police Department.
» Majs. William McMahon and Gary Gardner are the highest-ranking members of the force after Livesay, who will retire May 31.
