Transparency News 5/24/17

Wednesday, May 24, 2017



State and Local Stories

In Virginia's closely watched statewide political contests, so-called "dark money" comes with a few ironic twists. Two Republican candidates being attacked by mysterious funds have their own ties to nonprofits that have spent millions of untraceable dollars attacking politicians, often with aggressive ads. And the insurgent candidate in the Democratic primary, a longtime advocate of more transparency in political funding, has received $230,000 in anonymous donations from a nonprofit he helped start, making it one of his single biggest donors.
Daily Press

An audit of the Virginia Department of Aviation, which followed revelations that the Peninsula Airport Commission used more than $3.5 million in state money to guarantee a loan for a private airline that later defaulted, found much to improve in how the department receives and reviews financial information from airports. The Office of the State Inspector General, which performed the now-completed review, found that “internal controls need strengthening in several areas related to DOAV oversight of the airport funding programs,” according to the audit. A final report was issued Monday. The audit is separate from a review being conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation into the Peninsula Airport Commission’s guarantee of the loan to People Express, which defaulted on the loan, folded and cost the airport commission $4.5 million in local, state and federal taxpayer money.
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Amherst Police Chief Robert Kimbrel is on paid administrative leave, according to Deputy Town Manager Jim Chandler. Kimbrel, who took the helm of the town police department in late 2014, was placed on leave May 11, Chandler said. Citing “internal personnel matters,” Chandler declined to comment on why Kimbrel was placed on leave. Chandler declined to comment on whether Kimbrel will resume duties in the future, again citing the situation as an “internal personnel matter.” Chandler confirmed Monday Kimbrel has not been fired. “Our official policy is that we don’t comment on any personnel matters and that’s to protect the personnel …,” Chandler said. “We wouldn’t want to say anything that would lead anyone to construe anything bad has happened.”
News & Advance

The Manassas school board has fired Cathy Benner, the principal of Osbourn High School, roughly two months after school administrators placed her on leave.  Chairman Tim Demeria said the board voted May 16 to relieve Benner of her duties at the city’s lone high school, following an 11-hour closed-door hearing where Benner was able to argue her case to remain at Osbourn.  She had been on paid administrative leave since March 20, but so far, neither Demeria nor school division spokeswoman Almeta Radford have said what prompted Benner’s suspension and ultimate firing. For their part, parents, students and other community members have expressed bewilderment as to why the school board lost confidence in Benner. In an interview, Benner would only say a “student discipline situation” was at the heart of a disagreement with Superintendent Catherine Magouryk, leading to her termination. 
Inside NOVA

Virginia Republicans have a three-way race for lieutenant governor, much of it overshadowed by a two-way soap opera. For months, a pair of state senators competing for the nomination have waged a deeply personal war, one that will find its way to a courtroom just days before the June 13 primary. Sen. Bryce E. Reeves (Spotsylvania) has accused Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (Fauquier) of sending an email under a fake name to spread false rumors that he was having an affair. Subpoenaed Internet records link the emails to Vogel’s home IP address and to her husband’s cellphone. She has denied any responsibility and suggested that the family’s electronics had been hacked. Reeves filed a defamation lawsuit in Stafford County Circuit Court and has subpoenaed Vogel and her husband. The Vogels have filed a motion to quash the subpoenas. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for June 9.
Washington Post