Richmond election officials violated nepotism, ethics policies, HR review finds

Richmond's HR department has found that leaders within the city's elections office have violated nepotism and ethics policies, reports the Virginia Mercury .

Why it matters: The investigation's findings don't involve anything that deals with voting or ballots, but it risks sowing distrust in election officials ahead of a presidential election that's expected to yield several lawsuits from Republicans over "election integrity."

Driving the news: The report, prompted by complaints from ex-employees, was released last week to local and state officials and obtained by the Mercury via a public records request.

• It focuses on General Registrar Keith Balmer and Deputy General Registrar Jerry Richardson.

What they found: Balmer hired his brother and one of his brother's friends to work in the office and contracted with a company his wife owns.

• Two of Richardson's grandchildren and at least one of her friends work in the office — as do multiple people who know her grandkids.
• Employees connected to Balmer or Richardson "were hired or promoted without transparent and fair recruitment processes."
• Richardson sold Kate Spade accessories to employees during work hours to raise money for a nonprofit she runs.

Among what investigators recommended:

• An "immediate departmental restructuring" of the office to remove any employees from being supervised by a family member.
• Make sure hiring and promotions are based on merit and not preferential treatment.
• Ethics and integrity training for managers.

Between the lines: The HR probe didn't mention Balmer and Richardson's purchasing cards, which the city suspended after they spent $70,000 and almost $80,000 , respectively, last year, according to the Times-Dispatch.

• That issue will be covered in an ongoing investigation from the Office of the Inspector General.
• Balmer has also come under fire for allegedly violating procurement policies and signing nearly $1 million in contracts without city approval.
• Balmer reports to the Richmond Electoral Board, not the city — though the city pays his salary and expenses.

What's next: Richmond Electoral Board Chairman John Ambrose told the Mercury that the board will consider the findings in Balmer's annual evaluation next month.