A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier’s campaign for Rockford City Council is raising questions about a 1939 law that prohibits federal employees from participating in a partisan elections.
Lawrence Steward, 41, of Rockford, grew to prominence when his friend and colleague Jay Larson was killed during a bloody March 27 spree of violence last year that left four dead and seven wounded in a Rockford neighborhood. Grief-stricken letter carriers across the region turned to Steward for guidance and leadership as president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 245.
Steward said he has no plans to drop out of the election.
“We have been through all this with other candidates who work for the Post Office all over the country,” Steward said.
Steward contacted a United States Postal Service attorney for ethics and legal compliance before casting his hat into the ring to challenge Ald. Aprel Prunty, to represent the 6th Ward on Rockford south side during the Democratic Feb. 25 primary election.
