About three-quarters of the money raised by 6th District City Council candidate Tavares Floyd comes from out-of-state sources, according to The Virginia Public Access Project.
The validity of Floyd’s campaign finance filings was called into question Saturday by reporting from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which reached five people listed as contributors who said they did not donate to the candidate.
Virginia code states that “any willfully false material statement or entry” made on “any statement, form, or report” required of candidates for office — including campaign finance reports — is election fraud, a Class 5 felony.
Earlier in the week, Floyd — who’s an attorney and lectures at George Mason University — sent the paper and Lee Enterprises, its parent company, a cease-and-desist letter after being contacted by a Dispatch reporter.
VPM News called a number Saturday associated with Floyd’s campaign, but was sent directly to voicemail — which was full. A follow-up email also was sent, but not responded to by the time this story was published.
In an earlier interview with South Richmond News, Floyd discussed why the majority of his fundraising comes from out of state.
“I’ve just had relationships with a whole lot of people over the years," he said. "I’ve served on a whole lot of boards where people, I’ve connected with people. One thing I value is relationships."
Michael Byrne has worked in Richmond’s restaurant industry for decades and serves as director of the Virginia Restaurant Association. He’s run businesses in the district where City Councilor Ellen Robertson is being challenged by Floyd and Willie Hilliard in the upcoming elections.
He previously supported Floyd, citing issues with Robertson.
“I got more done as a business owner with [8th District Councilor] Reva Trammell than with Ellen, when Ellen was the council person in the 6th District,” he said on Saturday.
When asked whether he’d continue supporting Floyd if the allegations were true, Byrne said via text that the question was hypothetical. But he would not support a candidate guilty of campaign fraud.
As part of VPM News’ elections coverage, candidates for each council seat were sent a series of questions that were answered by email. In Floyd’s response to a question about restoring trust in the city and its services, which has not previously been published, the candidate referred to the need for transparency in government.
“Regular communications, transparent decision-making, and an open dialogue are key to rebuilding trust,” he wrote. “I am committed to being a leader who is not just present, but also responsive and accountable to the people of the 6th District.”
Hilliard sent a press release Saturday “calling on the Floyd campaign to publish financial records and validate that his donations are not fabricated as quickly as possible.”
“Fundamentally, we need to get money out of politics,” the email continued. “The success of a candidate and a campaign should not be solely tied to how many wealthy folks they know and can give favors to when they are elected. This is exactly why our campaign doesn’t accept donations from corporations.”
Robertson also called for transparency in an email to VPM News Sunday morning.
Voters "deserve and expect truth, transparency and accountability in their elected leaders," she wrote. "What I have read is very troubling, and I call on anyone who is trying to earn the public trust to clear up any discrepancies in their filing.”
Floyd’s campaign reported raising about $141,000 this cycle — almost $70,000 more than Robertson, who’s held the seat for two decades. Hilliard reported raising about $17,000.
The Floyd campaign also reported the highest fundraising total for any council candidate in any Richmond district. Trammell’s campaign had the second-highest total at almost $83,000, according to VPAP.
VCU political science professor Alex Keena called Floyd’s fundraising total “puzzling” for a first-time candidate.
“It raises real questions about where he’s getting his money from,” Keena told VPM News. “That's a huge red flag.”
