(a)(1) The Sheriff of Jefferson County may employ a confidential secretary in lieu of an executive secretary. The confidential secretary of the sheriff shall be paid the same compensation as the confidential secretary of the Jefferson County Commission. The confidential secretary of the sheriff shall not be subject to any merit system applicable to the employees of Jefferson County. If, at the time of employment as a confidential secretary of the sheriff, the person employed is an employee of Jefferson County and subject to a merit system, the person, upon the date of termination as a confidential secretary of the sheriff, shall be entitled to return to the employ of Jefferson County in a position subject to the merit system classification which is equal to or higher than the position that was held by the person as of the date the person was originally employed as a confidential secretary of the sheriff.
(2) Service time as a confidential secretary of the sheriff shall be considered, for all purposes, as service time as a merit system employee of Jefferson County if the person subsequently returns to a merit system classification as described in subdivision (1).
(3) A confidential secretary of the sheriff shall receive the same benefits that a merit system employee of Jefferson County receives, including, but not limited to, longevity pay.
(b) A confidential secretary of the sheriff may become a member of any pension plan applicable to employees of Jefferson County, if application for membership is made to the pension plan within 30 days of the date of employment as a confidential secretary of the sheriff.
(c) No person may run for elected county office while employed as a confidential secretary of the sheriff.