Richmond’s top two election officials resign after investigations found misconduct
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the outcome of the Richmond Elections Board's vote. We regret the error. RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Richmond’s top two election officials resigned after two investigations found they broke city policies with the misuse of city funds, wasteful overspending, nepotism and more misconduct. The city’s electoral board voted Wednesday to accept the resignation of Registrar Keith Balmer, who took over the role in 2021, a decision that came after a lengthy closed-door session held at Richmond City Hall. Balmer's resignation is effective Dec. 31, after which the board will appoint an interim registrar. His deputy, Jerry Richardson, resigned before the meeting, electoral board members told the press. Balmer was ultimately pushed out by electoral board members, who said after the meeting that he had the option to resign but they would seek his removal if he didn't. Electoral Board Chair Starlet Stevens said the three-member board was unanimous in that decision. Richmond Inspector General James Osuna and his office investigated the city’s elections office following claims of improper spending and nepotism against Balmer and Richardson. The IG’s investigation substantiated 25 of the 26 allegations reviewed and found nearly $500,000 in wasted taxpayer money, per the 24-page report. The IG’s probe found Balmer and Richardson abused their authority and broke city policies, including fraud, the misuse of city-issued credit cards, wasteful spending, drinking during work hours and not reporting complaints of domestic violence and sexual harassment. As the city’s general registrar, Balmer leads Richmond’s election office and oversees the administration of elections in the city. While Balmer is a city employee, he reports to the Richmond Electoral Board. Balmer and Richardson, the IG investigation found, abused their authority and wasted resources and funds in violation of multiple city policies. This included buying unnecessary items, not going through proper procedures on purchases with their city-issued cards, approving false time entries for an employee and more. Other allegations backed up by the IG’s investigation include the failure to share complaints of sexual harassment, domestic violence and other misconduct with human resources. An internal HR investigation from the city found Balmer and Richardson broke nepotism and ethics policies and the city’s elections office should undergo “an immediate departmental restructuring.” This led Balmer to publicly say that his office would stop hiring and awarding contracts to family members, and “implement more rigorous hiring practices to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all employees.”
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Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the outcome of the Richmond Elections Board's vote. We regret the error.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Richmond’s top two election officials resigned after two investigations found they broke city policies with the misuse of city funds, wasteful overspending, nepotism and more misconduct.
The city’s electoral board voted Wednesday to accept the resignation of Registrar Keith Balmer, who took over the role in 2021, a decision that came after a lengthy closed-door session held at Richmond City Hall.
Balmer's resignation is effective Dec. 31, after which the board will appoint an interim registrar. His deputy, Jerry Richardson, resigned before the meeting, electoral board members told the press.
Balmer was ultimately pushed out by electoral board members, who said after the meeting that he had the option to resign but they would seek his removal if he didn't. Electoral Board Chair Starlet Stevens said the three-member board was unanimous in that decision.
Richmond Inspector General James Osuna and his office investigated the city’s elections office following claims of improper spending and nepotism against Balmer and Richardson. The IG’s investigation substantiated 25 of the 26 allegations reviewed and found nearly $500,000 in wasted taxpayer money, per the 24-page report.
The IG’s probe found Balmer and Richardson abused their authority and broke city policies, including fraud, the misuse of city-issued credit cards, wasteful spending, drinking during work hours and not reporting complaints of domestic violence and sexual harassment.
As the city’s general registrar, Balmer leads Richmond’s election office and oversees the administration of elections in the city. While Balmer is a city employee, he reports to the Richmond Electoral Board.
Balmer and Richardson, the IG investigation found, abused their authority and wasted resources and funds in violation of multiple city policies.
This included buying unnecessary items, not going through proper procedures on purchases with their city-issued cards, approving false time entries for an employee and more. Other allegations backed up by the IG’s investigation include the failure to share complaints of sexual harassment, domestic violence and other misconduct with human resources.
An internal HR investigation from the city found Balmer and Richardson broke nepotism and ethics policies and the city’s elections office should undergo “an immediate departmental restructuring.”
This led Balmer to publicly say that his office would stop hiring and awarding contracts to family members, and “implement more rigorous hiring practices to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all employees.”
