(a) A candidate may not take an affirmative action to influence the following individuals regarding the appointment, reappointment, confirmation of the appointment or reappointment, employment, reemployment, change in status, compensation, or dismissal of another individual related to the candidate within a degree described by § 573.002:
(1) an employee of the office to which the candidate seeks election; or
(2) an employee or another officer of the governmental body to which the candidate seeks election, if the office the candidate seeks is one office of a multimember governmental body.
(b) The prohibition imposed by this section does not apply to a candidate’s actions taken regarding a bona fide class or category of employees or prospective employees.