Richmond election officials face scrutiny over nepotism and ethics ahead of 2024 election
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Richmond's HR department has found that leaders within the city's elections office have violated nepotism and ethics policies, reports the Virginia Mercury.
Why it matters: The investigation's findings don't involve anything that deals with voting or ballots, but it risks sowing distrust in election officials ahead of a presidential election that's expected to yield several lawsuits from Republicans over "election integrity."
Driving the news: The report, prompted by complaints from ex-employees, was released last week to local and state officials and obtained by the Mercury via a public records request.
- It focuses on General Registrar Keith Balmer and Deputy General Registrar Jerry Richardson.
What they found: Balmer hired his brother and one of his brother's friends to work in the office and contracted with a company his wife owns.
- Two of Richardson's grandchildren and at least one of her friends work in the office — as do multiple people who know her grandkids.
- Employees connected to Balmer or Richardson "were hired or promoted without transparent and fair recruitment processes."
- Richardson sold Kate Spade accessories to employees during work hours to raise money for a nonprofit she runs.
Among what investigators recommended:
- An "immediate departmental restructuring" of the office to remove any employees from being supervised by a family member.
- Make sure hiring and promotions are based on merit and not preferential treatment.
- Ethics and integrity training for managers.
Between the lines: The HR probe didn't mention Balmer and Richardson's purchasing cards, which the city suspended after they spent $70,000 and almost $80,000, respectively, last year, according to the Times-Dispatch.
- That issue will be covered in an ongoing investigation from the Office of the Inspector General.
- Balmer has also come under fire for allegedly violating procurement policies and signing nearly $1 million in contracts without city approval.
- Balmer reports to the Richmond Electoral Board, not the city — though the city pays his salary and expenses.
What's next: Richmond Electoral Board Chairman John Ambrose told the Mercury that the board will consider the findings in Balmer's annual evaluation next month.