No officer or employee of the state or the several counties, cities, and city school districts thereof, or civil service townships, shall appoint, promote, reduce, suspend, lay off, discharge, or in any manner change the official rank or compensation of any officer or employee in the classified service, or promise or threaten to do so, or harass, discipline, or coerce any such officer or employee, for giving, withholding, or refusing to support any party.
R.C. §124.60