(a) The Jefferson County Commission is hereby authorized to employ for and on behalf of the county three employees for each duly elected county commissioner. One of the employees for each commissioner is to be known as administrative assistant to the commissioner. The compensation for each such administrative assistant shall be fixed and determined by the county commission. One of the employees for each commissioner shall be known as a confidential secretary to the county commissioner. The compensation for each confidential secretary shall be fixed and determined by the Jefferson County Commission. One of the employees for each county commissioner shall be known as the administrative secretary to the commissioner. The compensation for each administrative secretary shall be fixed and determined by the Jefferson County Commission. All such administrative assistants, confidential secretaries, and administrative secretaries shall be exempt from the provisions of any merit system applicable to Jefferson County employees. Provided, however, should any such administrative assistant, confidential secretary, or administrative secretary be a member of such merit system at the time of their appointment, then upon termination of such appointment such individual shall have the right to return to the employ of Jefferson County in a position which carries the same or higher classification under such merit system with full credit for time spent as an administrative assistant, confidential secretary, or administrative secretary as if the individual had continued in such merit system position instead of such administrative assistant, confidential secretary, or administrative secretary.
(b) Individuals appointed as administrative assistant, confidential secretary, or administrative secretary are eligible to become members of any pension system applicable to county employees provided application for such membership is made to the board or other authority administering such pension system within 30 days of appointment. This section shall not limit the authority of the county commission to appoint other county employees under applicable merit or civil service system, or otherwise where authorized by any other law. No person employed in one of these staff positions shall run for elected office while so employed.