Flyer in post office violates Hatch Act

Many people walking down Front Street in Lewes would not have cast a second glance at a political poster taped to the door of the U.S. Post Office.

Lewes resident Cliff Geisler said the sight made him gasp.

Before Geisler retired in 2007, he was a federal investigator.  Occasionally, he said, his job required him to investigate violations of the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits most employees in the executive branch of the federal government from engaging in partisan political activity.  “When I walked in and I saw the poster…it was my opinion that it didn’t belong there,” he said.

Geisler said the first time he saw the poster – which advertises a $100 per person fundraiser for Attorney General Beau Biden, Aug. 21, at Lewes Yacht Club – it was taped to the inside of the front door of the post office.

Geisler said he saw the poster four additional times on bulletin boards inside the post office.  “On each occasion they’re removed,” he said.  But someone is continually reposting the flyer, Geisler said.

“Frankly, I think someone there’s asleep at the switch,” Geisler said.  “It’s disrespectful of the rules we have to work by.”

Geisler said he filed a complaint about the violation using the Office of Inspector General Hotline.

Lewes Postmaster Bill Osienski said he has not yet been notified a complaint was filed, but the violation was brought to his attention.  “We have a 24-hour lobby,” he said.  “It could be anyone who’s doing it.”

Osienski said the post office in Lewes employs only him and two other people.  He said someone from the community or the Biden campaign is likely putting the flyers up.  “We take them down immediately,” he said.

Josh Alcorn, Biden’s finance director, is the contact person for the fundraiser.  He said in an email he hadn’t been notified about the violation.

“It's great we have such committed and enthusiastic supporters working to make sure the event is a success,” Alcorn said.  “I will go back to our hosts and reiterate that the campaign needs to approve all placement of fliers.”