No employee shall be required to make, solicit, or receive any assessment, donation, subscription, or contribution for any political purpose whatsoever, or be required to be a member of a committee or an officer of a political party, or take any part in its management or affairs except to exercise his or her right as a citizen to express his or her opinion and cast his or her vote; no employee shall be required to assist any candidate for nomination or election to public office, or required to make any public statement in support of or against any such candidate, or participate in any manner whatever in the campaign of any candidate in any general or primary election; and no employee shall receive any appointment or advancement as a reward for his or her support of a candidate for office or a political party; nor shall he or she be dismissed, suspended, or reduced in rank or pay as punishment for his or her failure to support any candidate for political office.