Richmond registrar resigns, says violations were ‘more so administrative sloppiness’ than intentional wrongdoings

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Keith Balmer, Richmond's top elections official, has resigned after a report found he violated multiple city policies, which ultimately cost taxpayers almost $500,000. 8News spoke with Balmer, who said the violations should be chalked up to poor training, rather than any malicious intent. Richmond's Electoral Board voted unanimously the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 4 to approve Keith Balmer's resignation as Richmond's General Registrar. Balmer invited members of the media to speak with him at his office after the board announced its decision. "No one here did anything intentionally," Balmer said. "Basically, I would characterize this whole episode [as] more so 'administrative sloppiness.'" PREVIOUS: Richmond’s top two election officials resign after investigations found misconduct Balmer emphasized that, in his three years with the team, the elections were "on point." He said that he dedicated himself to the role and all of the values it entails. "I know a lot about election integrity -- this integrity doesn't just start with running elections," Balmer said. "It also is part of the job as being the director of a city department." This resignation comes after Richmond's Inspector General (IG) released a 24-page report, which corroborated 25 of 26 allegations against Balmer and his deputy Jerry Richardson, who also resigned following the release of the report's findings. These violations included fraud, misuse of city-issued credit cards, failure to properly report claims of domestic violence and sexual harassment, among other concerns, such as drinking alcohol on the job. Balmer denied ever consuming alcohol on the job. When asked for further explanation of this piece of the IG's report, Balmer said any alcohol consumption occurred "off-site." Balmer reiterated that the findings reported by the IG were mistakes due to a lack of proper training. He said, when it came to onboarding, he relied on the word and instruction of other staff members who held their roles longer than him. Richmond ends streetlight maintenance contract, considers disbarment after $1.2 million in potential fraud He said Richardson held her position for around ten years -- suggesting she was more familiar with city policies. "I received no formal training when I got this job as far as admin stuff," Balmer said. "One of the allegations is that I committed fraud by not inputting my time into the city software system and the Inspector General says you should know how to do that because you went through orientation and training … No, I didn't! There was no orientation [or] training." Balmer admitted that he found a large portion of the expense calculations from the IG's report to be correct. However, he said some of the charges -- like food expenses -- seemed incorrectly high. Prior to Balmer addressing the press, Richmond's Electoral Board discussed and deliberated for hours Wednesday morning in a closed session before ultimately unanimously approving Balmer's resignation. Members of the media asked which parts of the IG's report shaped the board's decision. "The totality of it was considered, as well as Mr. Balmer's responses," a board member said. Balmer said this isn't the last we will be hearing from him. Several staffers in his office appeared very upset upon hearing the announcement. Some doubled down on his claims that staffers received poor training, others even appeared to shed tears -- although the exact cause for the crying was never explicitly stated. 8News tours Richmond’s new affordable housing developments Balmer said it's his turn to share his side of the story. "There are some inaccuracies in the inconsistencies with that report," Balmer said. "And I think the public deserves to see that. " Balmer's replacement has not been selected at this time. He will remain in his position until the end of this year.