Heather Michon
Correspondent
A candidate for Fluvanna County Treasurer believes incumbent Linda H. Lenherr may have violated election law earlier this month.
Kim Oliver Hyland told a Charlottesville news station that she saw Lenherr and some Treasurer’s office staff carrying what appeared to be campaign-related materials when she was in Palmyra on July 3.
The following day, Lenherr and her supporters handed out campaign materials as they participated in a Fourth of July parade in Scottsville.
Hyland requested security camera footage from the county under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The footage, shown on CBS 19 on July 23, does appear to show Lenherr and others carrying boxes and Mardi Gras-style beaded necklaces in the hallway of the county office building.
Under election law, incumbents cannot carry out any type of campaign activities within their government offices.
Hyland has asked the Virginia State Police and Attorney General’s Office to investigate the incident.
Lenherr, who has served as treasurer since 1984, filed for reelection on May 29, according to Registrar Joyce Pace. She faces two challengers: Ben Hudson, who filed on April 30, and Hyland, who filed on June 11.
A request for comment by Lenherr received no response.
Hyland was not immediately available for comment.
