The Stafford County Board of Supervisors began its first meeting of 2025 with a significant leadership transition. Supervisor Deuntay Diggs was elected chairman in a 4-3 vote, succeeding outgoing Chairwoman Meg Bohmke. Diggs addressed his new role during the meeting and outlined his expectations for the year ahead, emphasizing transparency and teamwork.
Chairman Diggs’ Vision
Supervisor Diggs took a moment to reflect on the responsibilities of his new position and the values he brings to the role. “The citizens in the George Washington District knew that I was a law enforcement officer in this community. I love my job. And part of being a law enforcement officer is conducting ourselves with integrity. And so I will continue to do so, and I can serve in this role and do that as well,” Diggs said.
He further expressed a strong desire to foster collaboration among the board members. “The goal is that we’re gonna work together as a team. I’m not asking, I’m demanding that. That’s the expectation,” he stated. Diggs’ remarks came as a call to unity, encouraging board members to prioritize cooperation and accountability.
The board also elected Supervisor Tinesha Allen as vice chair in a 5-2 vote.
Community Concerns Addressed
Several public speakers attended the meeting to voice concerns, including issues surrounding the treatment of citizen volunteers on county boards. Mary Becelia, a former Library Trustee Board member, reiterated the need for protection for citizen volunteers and called for a formal apology from the board regarding her removal last year.
Aquia District Supervisor Monica Gary was censured for her role in Becelia’s removal in December 2024.
Diggs was acknowledged explicitly for his prior apology to Basile. Public speaker Clayton Calvert remarked, “Thank you, Supervisor Diggs, for your ongoing courage, not only for your role as a police officer in this community but on this dais, when you showed bravery in a different setting.”
Transparency and Accountability Discussions
During the meeting, a proposal was raised to revise the board’s Code of Conduct, focusing on transparency and accountability, particularly for board members working as county employees. Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch suggested adding a clause requiring employees to take leave for board-related activities during work hours and to submit leave requests for public review. While the motion was withdrawn, the board agreed to revisit the discussion in a future work session.
In response, Diggs reiterated his commitment to transparency. “If there’s any, clearly there’s only two people on this board that this comment and this is aimed at, and that’s myself and Supervisor English. And if anyone has questions about how much I work or when I’m working or when I’m not working, they can always contact the Sheriff’s office,” he said.
Diggs is a county sheriff’s deputy, while English retired from the sheriff’s office as a deputy and still works there part-time.
Supervisor Monica Gary’s No Votes
Supervisor Monica Gary cast “no” votes on multiple appointments during the meeting, explaining that her decision stemmed from what she described as retaliation by the board for her previous actions. Gary had publicly called out the board’s handling of Mary Becelia’s removal from the Library Trustee Board, accusing the board of violating state code.
Gary’s dissenting votes come after her recent announcement that she would not seek a second term on the board. This decision follows her censure in 2024 for her stance on the controversial removal of Becelia. Gary stated, “It is my position that because this board is continuing to retaliate against me by withholding appointments when I exercise free speech to call this board’s violation out of the Virginia Code 4.2.1-35 when removing Ms. Becelia, I will not support any of the appointments.”
The board concluded its meeting focusing on setting a collaborative tone for the year ahead.
