Taking a stand on vaccine mandates, Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur and Marion County Sheriff David Capps issued a joint statement saying that county employees “will not be required by Marion County to adhere to any vaccine mandate or any other mandate that would infringe on your individual liberties and freedoms.”
“We want to be very clear; this is not taking a stance being for or against a vaccine but rather a stance on the government’s authority to mandate it,” the letter read. “It is our sworn duty to assure you of your freedom and rights, including a right to medical privacy and freedom.”
LaFleur said he and Capps had been receiving requests from County employees about mandates to wear masks and issued the letter in response.
U.S. President Joe Biden issued a mask mandate on all federal property back in January. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott issued an executive order in July prohibiting local governments and state agencies from mandating vaccines and an order earlier in the year prohibiting local officials from requiring face masks.
Biden also announced last week that all companies with 100 or more employees must ensure their employees are either vaccinated or tested once a week. The U.S. Postal System falls under this requirement. All Federal employees, and employees of contractors who do business with the federal government, are also required to be vaccinated. Additionally federal Head Start program educators and health care workers at facilities receiving funds from Medicare and Madicaid, must be fully vaccinated
Currently, no government entity in the County requires masks or vaccines, including JISD and the City of Jefferson.
See the full letter here: