Richmond’s top two election officials resigned Wednesday after an investigation by the city’s inspector general found evidence of the office misusing half a million dollars in taxpayer money.
The Richmond Electoral Board accepted General Registrar Keith Balmer’s resignation in a closed session. Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson also stepped down from her post prior to the meeting, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The meeting came after Inspector General James Osuna released a November report that found support for 25 of 26 allegations of misconduct in Balmer’s office.
The claims included the Office of Elections spending over $200,000 on a security service hired without the proper procurement process — despite the city already having a security service under contract.
Balmer and others in the election office also allegedly used funds to decorate their offices — including a $7,585 order from local furniture store LaDIFF.
Jim Nachman, the chair of the electoral board when previous registrar J. Kirk Showalter was removed, said “there’s no particular set time frame” for replacing a registrar. He added that the appointment process for new registrars is largely up to the local board.
“We advertised and we got applications and resumes,” Nachman said of the process that eventually led to Balmer being hired.
Former city spokesperson Petula Burks also resigned over the summer amid an investigation into improper purchases made with a city-issued credit card.
The city is scheduled to hold a primary election on June 17.
