The top two election officials in Richmond, Virginia, resigned on Wednesday after a report claimed their office misappropriated $500,000 on expenses, including alcohol, unnecessary hotel stays, private security, and a luxury remodeling of office space leased by a government agency. Their resignations will reportedly take effect on December 31.
Richmond General Registrar Keith Balmer resigned on Wednesday, with the Richmond Electoral Board reportedly accepting both his resignation and the resignation of his deputy, Jerry Richardson. This comes just one week after Richmond Inspector General James Osuna released a report claiming their office wasted almost $500,000 in taxpayer money.
Balmer (pictured above) has yet to issue a statement following his resignation, but on November 26, he wrote in a post to the Richmond Office of Elections’ account on the social media platform X that he would address the report “in the coming days.”
https://www.twitter.com/RVA_Votes/status/1861421548600496599
According to The Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Samuel Parker, the election official expressed frustration with the media presence when he arrived to tender his resignation, remarking to reporters, “My god, I’m not the mayor.”
In his report, Osuna accused Balmer of spending over $200,000 on security, both through private security contracts and through the purchase of a firearm for a temporary office worker who was not insured to provide security.
Balmer reportedly justified spending on security by citing increased threats toward election officials and, at one point, paid two security guards to escort him to meetings, despite the inspector general determining there were no threats specific to Balmer or his office.
He was also accused of spending about $230,000 to remodel office space leased by Balmer’s government agency over a three-month period last year when he was also accused of ignoring lower-priced vendors and purchasing luxurious office furniture despite being notified of companies offering more competitive prices.
The election official was also accused of improper travel expenses, including purchasing alcohol using taxpayer money during business hours, renting hotel rooms for additional days before and after conferences and events, and purchasing both food and alcohol for non-city employees using his city bank card.
Balmer was accused of committing 26 financial offenses during his time in office, and Osuna substantiated all but one.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Keith Balmer” by City of Richmond Office of Elections.
