NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
2025 Nominating Committee Report
First, the Nominating Committee considered nominees for the LGA’s officer positions. Each currently serving officer who was eligible to serve in another role agreed to serve. The Nominating Committee was advised that LGA Board member Alan Spencer, who was ending his second 2-year term, and, therefore, was eligible to serve as Secretary, was not interested in serving in that office. The Nominating Committee Chair sought other nominations, but none were made. Therefore, the Nominating Committee voted unanimously to recommend this slate of officers to be elected to a one-year term (9/1/25-8/31/26):
1. President, Kelly J. Lackey, City of Fredericksburg
2. Vice-President, Courtney R. Sydnor, City of Hampton
3. Treasurer, Ryan C. Samuel, County of Arlington
4. Secretary, Tyler Southall, County of Dinwiddie
Second, the Nominating Committee acknowledged that the current President is willing to serve as Immediate Past President and that the role is automatically available to the current President. Accordingly, the Nominating Committee voted unanimously to recommend the following change in position:
5. Immediate Past President, Andrew “Andy” H. Herrick, County of Albemarle
Third, the Nominating Committee considered the nominations of two directors who are completing their first two-year term and are eligible to serve another two-year term. President Herrick reported that these directors were willing to continue serving on the LGA Board. The Nominating Committee Chair sought other nominations for these positions, but none were made. Thereafter, the Nominating Committee voted unanimously for these directors to be appointed for a second two-year term:
6. Martin R. Crim, Town of Culpeper/Sands Anderson, PC
7. Patrick C. Murphrey, City of Newport News
Fourth, the Nominating Committee had received a number nominations for members to serve as new directors, to be elected to a two-year term (9/1/25-8/31/27). The Nominating Committee was pleased with the highly qualified nominations it received and no other nominations were made. Based on the Nominating Committee’s discussion, evaluation of nominees, and consideration of applicable criteria established in the LGA Policies & Procedure, the Nominating Committee voted to recommend the following nominees for to serve initial terms as directors:
8. Laura Carini, Deputy City Attorney, City of Roanoke
9. Rysheda M. McClendon, County Attorney, County of Stafford
Finally, to provide complete information about the LGA Board of Directors, the following four directors are scheduled to complete their current terms on August 31, 2026:
10. John C. Blair, City of Staunton (completing second term)
11. Brandi A. Law, City of Hampton (completing second term)
12. Jeffrey “Jeff” S. Gore, County of Amelia/Hefty Wiley & Gore (completing first term)
13. Sarah “Sally” E. Kegley, County of Scott (completing first term)
Hereby submitted by the LGA’s 2025 Nominating Committee:
Tara A. McGee, County of Goochland, Chair
Lesa J. Yeatts, Town of Herndon
Mark C. Popovich, City of Covington/Guynn Waddell
Lola R. Perkins, County of Surry
Brendette M. Walker, County of Prince William
Andrew “Andy” H. Herrick, County of Albemarle, ex officio member
Revised Membership Eligibility
Over the past two years, the LGA Board of Directors has received concerns over the eligibility standard for associate membership. Under the current standard, attorneys are eligible for associate membership merely by “engag[ing] in a practice specializing in one or more facets of municipal law,” even if that practice is entirely adverse to local government(s).
In response to these concerns, former President Lesa Yeatts appointed an ad hoc committee (consisting of Board members Martin Crim, Ryan Samuel, and Tyler Southall) to study the issue. Following review and discussion of the committee’s report, the LGA Board is proposing the following amendments to Article III(b) of the Articles of Incorporation for a vote of the active membership at the annual meeting on April 24, 2025, during the upcoming Spring Conference. The proposed amendments would replace the above standard with a requirement that attorneys seeking associate membership have represented one or more local government clients in the preceding 365 days.
The following amendments are proposed to the Articles of Incorporation Article III(b)
The members of the corporation shall be of the following classifications: (a) active, (b) associate, (c) judicial, and (d) retired. Only representatives of active members shall have the right to vote or hold office, and only if such active member is an independent dues-paying entity.
CURRENT:
Article III(b) Associate Members: The Commonwealth of Virginia, which shall be represented by the Associate Members Office of the Attorney General; other legal or regional governmental entities created pursuant to the constitution or the statutes of the Commonwealth; and departments of local governments, or entities concerned with one or more facets of municipal law, who shall be represented by their attorneys who act as civil legal counsel to such entities or departments and who are officially employed by said entities or departments as chief legal counsel; or attorneys who engage in a practice specializing in one or more facets of municipal law. [amended by vote of the membership on September 15, 2005]
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:
Associate Members : (1) the Commonwealth of Virginia, which shall be represented by the Associate Members Office of the Attorney General; (2) other legal or regional governmental entities created pursuant to the constitution or the statutes of the Commonwealth; and departments of local governments, or entities concerned with one or more facets of municipal law, who shall be represented by their attorneys who act as civil legal counsel to such entities or departments and who are officially employed by said entities or departments as chief legal counsel; or attorneys who engage in a practice specializing in one or more facets of municipal law. (3) local government entities that exercise a governmental function at the local level, other than those eligible for active membership, and associations that act on behalf of local government interests; and (4) attorneys who have represented one or more local government clients in the preceding 365 days.
Under Article VIII, The Articles of Incorporation of the corporation may be amended at any annual meeting or special meeting called for that purpose, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present, provided that a written notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall have been given to the active membership no later than twenty-five (25) nor more than sixty (60) days in advance of the date of said meeting.
This will also serve as notice that the 2025 annual meeting (which also will include the election of officers and directors) will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025 during the 2025 Spring Conference at Omni Charlottesville in Charlottesville, VA.
If the active membership approves these proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, corresponding revisions to the LGA Policies & Procedures have been prepared for the Board’s adoption.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact me (aherrick@albemarle.org) or any member of the Board of Directors.