All officers and employees in any such city shall be elected or appointed with reference to their qualifications and fitness and for the good of the public service, and without reference to their political faith or party affiliations. It shall be unlawful for any candidate for office or any officer in any such city directly or indirectly to give or promise any person or persons any office, position, employment, benefit, or any thing of value, for the purpose of influencing or obtaining the political support, aid or vote of any person or persons. Every elective officer in any such city shall, within thirty days after qualifying, file with the city clerk, and publish at least once in a daily newspaper of general circulation his sworn statement of all his election and campaign expenses, and by whom such funds were contributed. Any violations of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and be ground for removal from office.