Virginia
After HR probe, Richmond officials suggest ‘restructuring’ of election office • Virginia Mercury
Human resources officials in the city of Richmond recommended an “immediate departmental restructuring” of the city election office after an internal investigation concluded the city’s registrar and deputy registrar violated nepotism and ethics policies.
The results of the HR investigation into the Richmond election office — which is separate from a more far-reaching probe underway by Richmond’s inspector general — were sent to state and local election officials on Tuesday. The Virginia Mercury obtained copies of the findings through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Richmond inspector general investigating city’s elections office
During the investigation, Registrar Keith Balmer verified nepotism allegations lodged against his office from three ex-employees, the documents show. It was their complaints that initiated the HR review, which produced three similarly worded investigative reports on the complaints and a summary of the findings.
The recommendation for a swift reshuffling of staff, including the proposed “transfer or removal” of all employees in a line of supervision that includes a family member, suggests a shakeup could be coming to the office that runs elections in Virginia’s capital city.
Though none of the allegations deal directly with voting or ballots, registrars are typically expected to be sticklers for following protocol given the sensitive, high-security nature of their work.
The management issues in Richmond are also bubbling up during a presidential year, when election officials around the country are at their busiest.
The Richmond controversy highlights the at-times confusing lines of supervision for registrars, who are hired and fired by unelected boards made up of appointees picked by local political parties and confirmed by judges. Though Balmer doesn’t report to City Hall or Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, the city’s investigation says he’s still subject to city policies.
In an interview Wednesday evening, Richmond Electoral Board Chairman John Ambrose said he and the rest of the board that oversees Balmer’s office had received the findings and would consider them as part of Balmer’s annual evaluation in July.
“Since we have an election next week on June 18 and the priority for the board is the correct and transparent conduct of the June 18 primary I don’t think it’s appropriate to take any emergency action at this time,” Ambrose said.
The nepotism accusations were laid out in a document titled “Nepotism Tree,” which says Balmer hired his brother and one of his brother’s friends to jobs in the election office. The office also contracted with a company owned by Balmer’s wife to provide training on how to accommodate voters with disabilities. That contract, amounting to $2,300, didn’t go through the city’s procurement office, according to the records.
Two grandchildren of Deputy General Registrar Jerry Richardson, the second-in-command, work in the office, as do several people connected to the grandchildren, according to the “Nepotism Tree” document both Balmer and Richardson confirmed as accurate to city officials.
Richardson’s grandson, Christian Javins, works as the office’s elections services manager. Javins’s girlfriend, Kara Wilson, works as a policy analyst. A cousin of Wilson’s and a longtime friend of Richardson’s also work in the office, according to the records, which detail several other familial relationships among lower-level employees.
City HR officials found that people with ties to Balmer and Richardson “were hired or promoted without transparent and fair recruitment processes.”
“Favoritism towards relatives of senior management undermined the principles of fairness, impartiality and equal opportunity for all employees,” city officials wrote in reports dated May 16. The reports were signed by Employee Relations Investigator Josh Underwood and HR Division Chief Timeko Hunte-Brown.
Though the HR investigation appeared to be completed last month, the city sent a “notice of investigative findings” this week to state and local election officials who work with Balmer.
Balmer said Wednesday evening that he had not yet reviewed the HR findings. He noted that, apart from his brother, the other family connections in the office predate his time as registrar, which started in 2021.
“I will ensure that no family member reports directly to a family member,” Balmer said in an email.
City HR policies set broader limits than that, aiming to prevent employees from making decisions that could benefit a relative “regardless of the working relationship.”
“Any employee with supervisory responsibilities shall not have a family member under their scope of responsibility,” the policy says.
Both Balmer and Richardson acknowledged to HR officials that people in their office often got jobs after recommendations from existing staff, according to the records. Richardson also indicated the office didn’t have a formal interview process for open positions and said it was “common practice for just a conversation as an interview.”
“Their failure to maintain transparency in hiring practices and neglect to address employee concerns violated the trust and integrity expected from organizational leaders,” the HR reports say.
The three former employees who complained about the office’s management also alleged they suffered retaliatory firings after raising concerns about nepotism and other issues. City HR officials ruled those claims unfounded, while noting that registrars can hire and fire employees at will and faulting the office for being unable to provide clear documentation laying out why the workers were let go.
Balmer told officials the three employees were terminated because of issues with their performance.
Investigators ruled Balmer and Richardson violated two city administrative regulations. One is an anti-nepotism policy meant to prevent preferential treatment for relatives and ensure employees don’t supervise their relatives. The other is a more general ethics policy outlining rules against using public office for personal gain and conduct that inhibits “the confidence of the public in the integrity of government.”
The investigation also revealed that Richardson had sold Kate Spade purses, wallets and money clips to employees during work hours to raise money for a nonprofit animal rescue organization she runs. The cost of the items ranged from $20 to more than $100.
“Considering Richardson’s managerial role, selling items on city time to employees that are within her chain of command may give the perception of favoritism for those who purchase from Richardson or create an environment in which employees feel purchasing the items to be obligatory,” the report says.
Richmond HR officials recommended “an immediate departmental restructuring to correct any nepotism,” the implementation of more thorough hiring practices to ensure jobs are awarded on “merit and qualifications,” mandatory training on ethics and other city policies and potential discipline for those involved.
It’s unclear when Richmond’s Office of the Inspector General is expected to complete its investigation into the election office.
City officials suspended government credit cards issued to the registrar’s office after concerns were raised about improper spending, much of which has been reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The inspector general is believed to be looking at that issue and others that deal with finances and accusations of improper conduct that go beyond HR rules.
The reports issued by HR officials point to some of those other allegations.
One of the ex-employees who filed a complaint also alleged his former co-workers took unused copper wire from the building that houses the elections office and sold it for scrap.
A footnote in the HR report says an investigator in the inspector general’s office didn’t seem too concerned about that claim because “the copper wires were considered trash.”
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DURHAM, N.C. — Maalik Murphy’s three touchdown passes to Eli Pancol helped Duke overcome his three interceptions in a 31-28 win over slumping Virginia Tech on Saturday night.
Pancol racked up 188 yards receiving on five catches and Duke (8-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which had only nine first downs until the last four minutes, held on for its second victory in a row.
Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 84 yards and a late touchdown, but the Hokies (5-6, 3-4) lost their third consecutive game.
With quarterback Kyron Drones out with an injury, Virginia Tech used Collin Schlee as the starter before turning to William Watson III. Schlee threw for one touchdown, while Watson fired for 140 yards and reached the end zone on a two-point conversion run for the game’s final points with 9:19 to play.
Duke overcame four turnovers. The Blue Devils had the ball at Virginia Tech’s 16-yard line with a first down before Star Thomas fumbled, with the Hokies taking over with 1:44 remaining. They didn’t pick up a first down.
Duke’s 14-0 lead less than 6½ minutes into the game came from Murphy’s 86-yard connection with Pancol on the team’s first snap. The hooked up for a 77-yard TD play on the next possession.
Virginia Tech scored 17 straight points, with Schlee’s 65-yard pass play to Ali Jennings providing the team’s first points. Ayden Greene had a 21-yard TD run. Jennings posted 158 yards receiving.
Duke’s Star Thomas (17) stretches for extra yards in the grasp of Virginia Tech’s Mansoor Delane, back, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
The takeaway
Virginia Tech: The Hokies remain a victory shy of bowl eligibility with one game remaining. They had three possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final eight minutes but managed only 20 yards combined on those series.
Duke: The Blue Devils had enough big plays, but the rushing attack has pretty much been abandoned until a couple of late drives. The defense that had been so stout for portions of the season had some holes, but the unit buckled up down the stretch. The only blemish on Duke’s 5-1 home record is an overtime loss to SMU.
Up next
Virginia Tech: at home Saturday vs. Virginia
Duke: Saturday at Wake Forest
Duke’s Star Thomas (17) tries to run the ball away from Virginia Tech’s Jaden Keller (24) and Mansoor Delane (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Mustangs spent three decades pushing to be back in a power conference.
This season — and Saturday’s win over Virginia — showed why.
No. 13 SMU (10-1, 7-0) dominated in its final road contest against the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) 33-7 to clinch a spot in the ACC title game on Dec. 7.
Between a lights-out defensive performance, which included shutting out Virginia for the first 55 minutes of play, and another impressive showing from quarterback Kevin Jennings, the Mustangs cruised to victory to become the first team in the conference to secure their trip to Charlotte.
Here are five thoughts from the win.
Mustangs continue to make history in first ACC season
Each week during this historic season, SMU has seemingly achieved more feats many thought were impossible during their first year in the ACC.
After tearing through their first six conference opponents, SMU’s win Saturday made it the first team to make the conference title game in its first season after moving from a Group of Five conference to a power conference.
The Mustangs’ dominant win against Virginia was their 16th straight against a conference opponent and 10th consecutive on the road — both among the longest active streaks in FBS.
The Mustangs were picked to finish seventh in the ACC’s preseason poll, majorly exceeding expectations with their season that now has them on the brink of their first College Football Playoff appearance.
Final | No. 13 SMU 33, Virginia 7
SMU clinches a spot in the ACC title game on Dec. 7, becoming the first team to make its conference championship game in the first year after moving from a Group of Five conference to a power conference. pic.twitter.com/CwCIaKxdiW
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) November 23, 2024
SMU defense led by Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte stifles UVA offense
SMU’s defense has been its most consistent facet this season, but after a weaker performance against Boston College last week, the group was seeking a bounce-back game.
That’s exactly what the Mustangs got from Scott Symons’ group, which was 4:16 away from posting its first shutout of the season. The Cavaliers finished with just 173 total yards and 65 on the ground. Last week against Boston College, the Mustang defense allowed 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
SMU was successful in getting to Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea, finishing with nine sacks. Defensive linemen Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte led the team with two each. Kori Roberson had 1.5 sacks.
Virginia made just three red zone trips. It missed a 41-yard field goal in the first half and could not convert a fourth-down attempt in the second half after intercepting Jennings.
With under five minutes to play, Virginia finally found the end zone as Colandrea hit Malachi Fields for the four-yard touchdown.
Kevin Jennings earns spot to compete on conference’s biggest stage
Jennings didn’t even begin the season as an ACC starter, but over the course of the last 12 weeks, he’s proven to be one of the conference’s top quarterbacks.
Against Virginia, Jennings was outstanding again, leading the Mustangs with a career-high 323 yards on 25 of 33 passing (76%) and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
He had a stretch in the first half where he completed 12 straight passes, including a third-down conversion where he dodged multiple sacks before finding Roderick Daniels Jr. for the completion.
Jennings did have two turnovers in the second half, an interception and a fumble.
Nevertheless, a matchup with either Heisman candidate Cam Ward from Miami or Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in the ACC championship will be an intriguing one.
All wide receivers get involved in Jennings’ career day
Jennings has lost two of his top receiving targets over the past few weeks with both tight end RJ Maryand and wide receiver Jake Bailey going down with season-ending injuries.
But Saturday’s win showed the depth of the Mustang pass catchers with six different players recording multiple receptions and combining for 323 total yards.
Jordan Hudson led the group in receptions for the second consecutive week. After recording a career-high seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown against Boston College, Hudson had six for 56 yards and a 17-yard touchdown reception in the first half against Virginia.
SMU’s leading receiver in yardage, however, was Moochie Dixon, who took four catches 89 yards with a long of 53 yards. Daniels added another five for 58 yards.
Tight end Matthew Hibner had SMU’s final 16-yard touchdown with 1:42 remaining.
The receivers stepped up, as Virginia limited SMU’s running backs, which combined for 111 yards on 35 carries.
Mustangs to close out regular season at Ford Stadium
SMU will get a chance to enjoy senior day next week without worrying about its ACC title game chances.
Having already clinched their spot, SMU will play its final regular-season game at Ford Stadium against Cal with a chance to become the first since the 1992 Florida State Seminoles to finish its inaugural campaign in a power conference unbeaten.
SMU has more to play for beyond the ACC title game. While it looks like the Mustangs will need to win the ACC championship to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, at-large bids are still at play. Finishing 8-0 in conference play would be key to helping the Mustangs’ chances at one of those seven spots — or a better bowl selection should they miss out on the playoff.
They will also await their ACC championship opponent. Miami can secure their title game berth with a win over Syracuse next week, but Clemson would earn the spot if Miami loses.
Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
The No. 13 SMU Mustangs play against the Virginia Cavaliers in a college football game today. The matchup will begin at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN 2. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Mustangs enter this matchup with a 9-1 record, and they are undefeated in conference play. Notably, the team has won seven games in a row. In their most recent game, the Mustangs defeated Boston College 38-28.
During the victory, SMU accrued 438 total yards. The team’s star quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns and nearly 2,200 yards this season, so he will be a key player to watch today.
The Cavaliers enter this matchup with a 5-5 record, and they are coming off a 35-14 loss against Notre Dame. During the loss, Virginia struggled offensively. The team had five turnovers, which included three interceptions. Notably, Virginia only completed 17-36 passes against Notre Dame, so they will need to rely on their rushing attack today.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
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