FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Maryland state elected officials who have sexual relationships with employees under their supervision would be violating state ethics law, if a county commissioner gets his way.

The ethics law would not apply, however, if the official and the worker were married to each other.

Frederick County Commissioner John Thompson says the proposal is a response to a specific situation, but he won't name the people involved out of consideration for innocent third parties.

Thompson wants the issue included in the county's list of state legislative priorities. But several local lawmakers say they would oppose Thompson's proposal.

County delegation chairman Rick Weldon says the county and the state face many more important issues.

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