3rd District candidate used youth program to make signs for campaign
The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Will Jones has details on a minor controversy flaring up in the 3rd District campaign for Richmond City Council:
Richmond City Council candidate Jonathan Davis found an inexpensive way to get cards and signs printed for his campaign.He used four wards in the state’s Youth Industries job-training and apprenticeship program for incarcerated youth.
Davis, an advertising design instructor with the program, reported a $1,500 in-kind contribution for design and printing services from the program at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center.
It is correct that Jonathan Davis did not break any agency rules in using the Youth Industries program. However, I have it on the “low-down” that he was investigated by the state fraud and abuse audit department in August 2008 and the results of this investigation were that while he didn’t break any specific agency policy, he did use state resources and time to print his political campaign materials. The first investigation that was completed late this summer did not take into account the failure to pay for the ward’s time and a new investigation has been launched.
I also have learned that the superindent of Mr. Davis’ direct agency, Walter McFarlane at the Dept of Correctional Education did not know he was running for City Council, which is in conflict with what Davis said. Lastly, apparently Mr. Davis will be required to reimburse the state for the “fair market” value of the printing and design services.
I agree that while Mr. Davis’ actions may not have been in violation of any state “rules”, I think what he did shows incredibly poor judgement and was completely inappropriate. I agree with Hilbert’s comments in the RTD, I don’t see how kids who are in jail can voluntarily agree to work for their supervisory. It feels like coersion to me and an exploitation of these kids.
Furthermore, he himself stated to the RTD that he didn’t know how the youth’s $2 per hour wage was paid, which means he didn’t pay it and we as taxpayers did. To me, that is inappropriate for someone seeking elected office.
He was guilty. Not enough to lose his job but enough to be in touble.
FOIA…. it is a wonderful thing.
an update can be found here:
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/politics.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-24-0150.html
It’s laughable that Davis claims he insisted on paying the $1,384 back to the state. If he was so honest he never would have expected the state to cover the labor costs in the first place. Bottom line, he was caught and is now being forced to do the right thing. Is this really the kind of elected official we want?
This really is a sad situation. I can not beleive that someone who is running for an elected position can not see the conflict here. Makes me wonder.
[...] Times-Dispatch’s Will Jones has an update on the 3rd District campaign issue involving the use of incarcerated youth in a state job-training prog… to produce cards and signs for candidate Jonathan Davis: Those concerns, stemming in part from [...]