(a) No person employed in the classified civil service may (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office; or (2) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command or advise a state or local officer or employee to pay, lend or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for political purposes.

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(b) A person employed in said classified service retains the right to vote as he chooses and to express his opinions on political subjects and candidates and shall be free to participate actively in political management and campaigns. Such activity may include, but shall not be limited to, membership and holding of office in a political party, organization or club, campaigning for a candidate in a partisan election by making speeches, writing on behalf of the candidate or soliciting votes in support of or in opposition to a candidate and making contributions of time and money to political parties, committees or other agencies engaged in political action, except that no classified employee shall engage in such activity while on duty or within any period of time during which such employee is expected to perform services for which he receives compensation from the municipality, and no such employee shall utilize municipal funds, supplies, vehicles or facilities to secure support for or oppose any candidate, party, or issue in a political partisan election. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any municipal employee may be a candidate for a federal, state or municipal elective office in a political partisan election and no municipality or any officer or employer thereof shall take or threaten to take any personnel action against any such employee due to such candidacy. No person seeking or holding state or municipal office in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall engage in political activity or in the performance of the duties of such office while on municipal duty or within any period of time during which such person is expected to perform services for which such person receives compensation from the municipality.

(c) Any municipal employee who leaves his municipal employment to accept a full-time elective municipal office shall be granted a personal leave of absence without pay from his municipal employment for not more than two consecutive terms of such office or for a period of four years, whichever is shorter. Upon reapplication for his original position at the expiration of such term or terms of office, such person shall be reinstated in his most recent municipal position or a similar position with equivalent pay or to a vacancy in any other position such person is qualified to fill. If no such positions are available, such person’s name shall be placed on all reemployment lists for classes for which he is eligible. Such person shall give notice in writing to his municipal employer that he is a candidate for a full-time elective municipal office within thirty days after nomination for that office.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, upon the request of any municipal employee to whom a personal leave of absence has been granted pursuant to said subsection, his municipal employer may, in its sole discretion, determine whether to extend such leave of absence beyond the period permitted in said subsection and, if extended, what terms and conditions shall pertain to such extension. As part of any such extension, rights of reinstatement with equivalent pay or benefits may be granted to such employee.

(e) Any municipal employee shall have the right to serve on any governmental body of the town in which such employee resides except any body which has responsibility for direct supervision of such employee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, (1) no such employee shall serve on any of the following unless such employee is permitted to serve pursuant to the provisions of a municipal charter or home rule ordinance or serves because of membership on the legislative body of the municipality: (A) Any board of finance created pursuant to chapter 106 or any special act or municipal charter; (B) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (D) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (E) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter; and (2) any municipality may, by ordinance adopted by its legislative body, authorize such employees to serve on (A) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (B) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (D) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter.