Oct. 22--TUPPER LAKE -- The Office of Special Counsel in Washington, D.C., has found no violation of the Hatch Act in Village Police Chief Tom Fee's campaign bid for town supervisor.

Attorneys with the office are still reviewing documents involved with Village of Tupper Lake water and wastewater contracts and then will render a decision about whether Bob Fuller, village water/sewer superintendent, can run for Town Council or whether he would be violating the Hatch Act.

The Hatch Act is a federal law that governs which local public servants in jobs supported by federal grants can and can't run for political office.

Fuller had curtailed all campaign activity, saying he would not serve if elected, after initially being told he was in violation.

Both candidates said they had checked with attorneys and state municipal advisers before announcing runs for political office.

Both names are on ballots already printed in Franklin County, and absentee ballots were mailed earlier this month.

On Wednesday, Fee said his campaign would continue.

"I received notification by phone that I was not in violation of the Hatch Act, and I can run for office."

Federal attorneys had advised him to stop political activity a week ago, after an anonymous call reportedly questioned his campaign and that of Fuller.

Fee earned the Republican endorsement in his bid for Town of Tupper Lake supervisor but had abstained from campaign activities while awaiting the federal decision.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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