(a) In county elections, no employee shall make, solicit, or receive any assessment, donation, subscription, or contribution for any political purpose whatsoever except to exercise his or her right as a citizen to express his or her opinion and cast his or her vote; no employee shall assist any candidate for nomination or election to county office or make any public statement in support of or against any such candidate, or participate in any manner whatever in the campaign of any candidate in any county election; and no employee shall receive any appointment or advancement as a reward for his or her support of a candidate for office or a political party; nor shall he or her be dismissed, suspended, or reduced in rank or pay as punishment for failure to support any candidate for political office. Any employee who shall desire to become a candidate for county office shall, upon qualifying for such office, take leave of absence without pay to campaign for such office. Upon winning any such election, the employee shall resign from his or her position of employment with the county.

(b) The provisions of this section notwithstanding, nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting the activities of county employees in city, state, or national elections, nor as prohibiting an employee from being a member, officer, or beat committeeman or committeewoman of a political party; neither shall this article interfere with any duty such employee might have as such member, officer, or beat committeeman or committeewoman.