The Charlottesville Electoral Board asked for and received the resignation of Charlottesville registrar Sheri Iachetta today during a two-hour closed session.
Iachetta was charged with six felonies in September for approving city-funded cell phones for her husband, a former employee of the registrar’s office who left in 2009, and local attorney Stephanie Commander, a former elections board official who left the post in 2011 and who also was charged with four felonies. In October, the Daily Progress and Schilling Show reported that Iachetta’s city-issued credit card had been revoked—twice—for failure to provide receipts.
“Unfortunately, there are times when lapses in judgment cause damage to a relationship that is irreparable, and that is where this electoral board finds itself today,” said the board in a statement. “For that reason we have, with regrets, accepted Ms. Iachetta’s resignation as general registrar, effective December 31, 2014.”
When the scandal first broke, the Electoral Board said it would do nothing until after the November 4 election. The lack of action in turn led to a call for the three-member board to resign from two former mayors, the former city treasurer, the co-chairs of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee, the chair of the city’s Republican committee, and the Jefferson Area Tea Party.
“We’re sticking out our term,” said board member Rick Sincere after the meeting had adjourned.
Board chair Joan Schatzman said the board had asked for Iachetta’s resignation.
Before the meeting began, the board heard from four members of the public, all of whom expressed support for Iachetta.
Staff member and Deputy Registrar Diane Gilliland said she preferred to let the court process play out before taking action. Iachetta goes to court again in December 11. Several staff members talked to the board while it was in executive session, and Iachetta went behind closed doors three times.
“No matter what the outcome of this situation would have been, we would have been uncomfortable with it,” said the board in its statement. “This has been a difficult time for us, and as members of the Electoral Board we have had little precedent to guide.”
The board said it plans to conduct a national search for a new registrar, and hopes to fill the position before next year’s June primary.
Iachetta declined to comment after the board’s announcement.