Amherst County Sheriff E.W. Viar hosted a fundraiser on Sunday for his re-election campaign. Food was provided for a required donation of $15. If one couldn’t stay for the entire fundraiser, a “to-go plate” could be purchased for a $10 donation.
Although the Viar campaign considered the $10 or $15 a “donation,” it is clear the donation was required for the receipt of food, thus making it a transaction within the confines of the Commonwealth.
SEE FACEBOOK POST BELOW FROM FUNDRAISER:
Under Virginia Code § 3.2-5130, selling food that is not prepared in a VDACS approved kitchen can only take place at a farmer’s market or directly out of one’s home and is limited to certain foods. The fundraiser was held at Madison Heights Community Center, which does not adhere to one of the two sale location requirements.
One could also speculate that a portion of the food provided was not prepared in a VDACS approved kitchen based on the screenshot below stating that one of the items was ‘homemade’. This may seem like a minor detail but when running to be an officer of the law these minor details matter.
SEE FACEBOOK SCREENSHOT BELOW:
Sheriff E.W. Viar, of all people, should follow the law – no matter how big or small.
As far as we know, Sheriff E.W. Viar’s campaign has yet to comment on the matter.