No person shall be appointed or promoted to, or demoted or dismissed from any position, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to employment because of his or her political or religious opinions or affiliations or his or her race. No person shall seek or attempt to use any political endorsement in connection with any appointment to a position. No person shall use or promise to use, directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence, whether possessed or anticipated, to secure or attempt to secure for any person an appointment or advantage in appointment to a position, or an increase in pay or other advantage in employment in any such position, for the purpose of influencing the vote or political action of any person, or for any consideration. No employee and no member of the board shall, directly or indirectly, pay or promise to pay any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political organization or purpose, or solicit or take any part in soliciting any such assessment, subscription, or contribution. No person shall solicit any such assessment, subscription, or contribution of any employee. No employee shall be a member of any national, state, or local committee of a political party, or an officer of a partisan political club, or a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, or shall take any part in the management or affairs of any political party or in any political campaign, except to exercise his or her right as a citizen privately to express his or her opinion and to cast his or her vote. Any officer or employee under the jurisdiction of this section who violates any of the foregoing provisions of this section shall forfeit his or her office or position. Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed so as to deny the right of a public servant to petition his or her city, county, state, or national government.