[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 141 (Tuesday, August 26, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING TONYA LACEY ON HER YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 26, 2025

  Mr. VINDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Tonya Lacey for 
her 33 years of service in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. A 
proud graduate of James Monroe High School here in Fredericksburg, Mrs. 
Lacey's commitment to her local community has been nothing short of 
inspiring.
  Throughout her career, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to 
public service, embodying the spirit of community in every role she has 
held.
  Beginning in 1992, Mrs. Lacey's journey with the City of 
Fredericksburg began as a receptionist in the City Manager's Office. 
She went on to serve as the Secretary of the Planning Department from 
1999 to 2002, and as Secretary to the City Manager from 2002 to 2009. 
In her most recent role, she is the first African-American woman to 
serve as Fredericksburg's Clerk of Council, a groundbreaking 
achievement that broke barriers and paved the way for future 
generations.
  In her years of service, Mrs. Lacey received several professional 
accolades including her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) certification 
and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) certification. Mrs. Lacey repeatedly 
demonstrated her commitment to excellence in effort and actions when it 
came to attending 411 City Council meetings and 452 work sessions, and 
processing and managing 797 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, 
and in documenting the factual record with over 7,617 pages of City 
Council meeting minutes in the historic record of Council.
  As Clerk of Council, Mrs. Lacey guided our community by keeping the 
community informed about the operations performed by the government. 
She worked with the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and City Council, keeping 
official records, responding to citizen inquiries and keeping citizens 
informed about City Council actions. She acted as the Freedom of 
Information Officer (FOIA) and Records Manager for the City of 
Fredericksburg, which was a vital position in the continuity of 
transparency and public access.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally thank Mrs. Lacey for her 
remarkable 33 years of service in our community. We are grateful for 
her tireless efforts to ensure that our government operates smoothly 
and that our citizens are well-served.