Prince George's County Council swears in Veil Adams Stafford as District 5 member; council enacts several local measures

Prince George's County Council members administered the oath of office to Veil Adams Stafford on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, seating her as councilmember for Councilmanic District 5 and proceeding with a full docket of enacted local measures and resolutions.

The swearing-in came midway through the council's June 17 session. Vice Chair Bridal, speaking before the oath, praised Stafford as “a woman of intelligence and integrity” and said she expected Stafford to “constantly put your residents first.” Councilmember Tom DeNoga, District 1, and others recounted Stafford's service on the county Board of Education and her work with neighborhood and youth programs. Stafford, in her first remarks as a councilmember, thanked volunteers and family and said she was “so honored and excited to represent the Fifth District Of Prince George's County.”

Why it matters: The new councilmember fills the District 5 seat and will take office as the council begins work on the fiscal-year transitions and several local ordinances. Councilmembers also used Tuesday’s meeting to adopt multiple bills and county resolutions that affect public safety, neighborhood quality of life, administrative procedures and fiscal surcharges for FY 2026.

During the meeting the council completed roll call and a consent agenda, held public hearings on multiple measures, and voted to enact or adopt the following items (outcomes shown as recorded in the meeting):

Votes at a glance: CB12 (DPWT snow removal reporting) — enacted (recorded vote: motion carried; roll call recorded as unanimous in that vote); CB15 (prohibiting leaving cones/objects on roadways) — enacted (motion carried; roll call recorded as unanimous in that vote); CB38 (impoundment notice alignment with state law) — enacted (motion carried, recorded unanimous); CB39 (alarm user permits, electronic replacement) — enacted (motion carried, recorded unanimous); CB45 (common ownership communities rules and regulations authority) — enacted (motion carried, recorded unanimous); CR59 (local impact grant fund multiyear spending plan FY2025–2027, substitute draft 2) — adopted (recorded as 9 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions); CR73 (school facility surcharge for FY 2026) — adopted (recorded unanimous in that vote); CR74 (public safety and behavioral health surcharge for FY 2026) — adopted (recorded unanimous in that vote); CR79 (tax rate for FY 2026) — adopted (recorded unanimous in that vote). The meeting record shows most enactments carried with unanimous roll-call votes; CR59 recorded abstentions as noted above.

What supporters said: Speakers who addressed Stafford’s swearing-in emphasized her background as a teacher and nonprofit leader and her focus on education and equity. Councilmember DeNoga said Stafford “brings the background as an educator, a businesswoman, and … a mother of young children.” A former school-board colleague praised Stafford’s work on literacy and after-school programs and said the board would miss her oversight. Family members and clergy offered prayers and personal tributes before the oath was administered by the clerk.

Formal action: The clerk administered the oath for the office of councilmember for Councilmanic District 5. The meeting then resumed legislative business, including roll-call votes and enactments listed above. Where recorded in the transcript, motions to enact or adopt were moved and seconded from the floor and roll calls were recorded by the clerk; vote tallies and abstentions are reported in the meeting record as described.

Details and next steps: Stafford was assigned committee memberships announced during the meeting (the council chair announced committee assignments for the incoming member). Several adopted measures (for example, the FY 2026 surcharges and the local impact grant multiyear plan) set fiscal or programmatic direction that will be implemented by county agencies and departments; staff briefings and budget adjustments will follow as required by the council and executive’s offices.

The council adjourned the public session after completing its agenda and noted upcoming hearings and meetings on land-use and public-health items.