Goochland Board elects Christy chair, Spoonhower vice-chair for 2026

The Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, January 6, to elect District 1 Supervisor Jonathan Christy as chair and District 2 Supervisor Neil Spoonhower as vice-chair for 2026. The leadership change follows the end of District 3 Supervisor Tom Winfree's term as chair and sets the board's organizational direction for the year.

Jonathan Christy, serving his first term after election in 2023, assumes the chair role after a year as vice-chair in 2025. "Thank you to my fellow board members for trusting me with this position of leadership.", said Mr. Christy. Neil Spoonhower returns to the vice-chair position for a second time, having previously served as vice-chair in 2021 and as chair in 2022 and 2023. Spoonhower is serving his second term as supervisor, having been elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023.

Along with the leadership elections, the board adopted its 2026 Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, Rules of Procedure, and meeting schedule. The formal adoption of these governance documents establishes expectations for conduct and the mechanics of board business for the coming year, affecting how issues are debated, how votes are processed, and how the public can engage.

For residents who follow county business, the board confirmed a regular meeting cadence: an afternoon and an evening session on the first Tuesday of each month, with the evening meeting beginning at 6 P.M. The specific start time for the afternoon meeting will be set and publicized at least seven days before each meeting. The third Tuesday of each month is reserved for additional meetings if needed. The board also scheduled additional budget meetings and public hearings in February, March, and April. Meetings are normally held in the Goochland County Administration Building Board Meeting Room, Room 250, 1800 Sandy Hook Road, unless otherwise noticed.

These procedural details matter for civic engagement and transparency. Evening meetings provide an opportunity for working residents to attend, while the seven-day notice for afternoon start times gives the public a predictable window to plan participation. The adoption of the code and rules underscores the board's stated commitment to formalizing conduct standards ahead of a year that includes multiple public hearings on the budget.

For more information or to confirm meeting times and agendas, call (804) 556-5811 or visit the County's Board of Supervisors page on the Goochland County website.

Our two cents? If a county decision matters to you, mark the first and third Tuesdays on your calendar, check the board page the week before meetings, and consider attending an evening session to make your voice heard.