POLITICS AND PUBLIC-ADMINISTRATION - A POLITICAL PROFILE OF LOCAL BUREAUCRATS IN ALABAMA

Although studies have investigated the political attitudes and voting behavior of federal bureaucrats, little research has focused on politi cal attitudes and behavior of local bureaucrats. Furthermore, although the literature discusses the concepts of bureaucratic neutrality and bureaucratic independence, we have yet to construct, from empirical ev idence, an adequate profile or model of the nature and extent of polit ical behavior and activism of bureaucrats. This study of municipal adm inistrators in Alabama identifies the political party affiliation, att itudes ideology, and activism of bureaucrats. The findings question th e notion that bureaucrats are Democratic Party loyalists and liberal p olicy activists who, as public employees, feel restricted politically and pursue their own ideological preferences when implementing public programs irrespective to mandates from elected officials.