DID DELEGATE PAUL MILDE
HAVE HIS HANDS IN THE “TENTS ONLY” COOKIE JAR?
BEFORE WE BEGIN — A HARD POST TO SHARE:
We want to start this post with a disclaimer:
➡️ This is not politically motivated.
➡️ This is not personal.
This was a hard post to write — and an even harder one to share.
We could have stayed silent, but silence would’ve meant becoming part of the same problem we’ve been fighting — dishonesty and government overreach over truth and fairness.
We also want to be upfront — We actually supported Paul Milde we felt he stood for fairness, accountability, and protecting Stafford County’s future.That’s what makes this even harder to post.
Our goal isn’t to divide; it’s to show transparency and the political influence that has impacted a lawful, by-right project that should have been simple and fair from the start — and if it had been, we’d already be welcoming families, creating jobs, and bringing new visitors to Stafford County right now.
So here we go — the part we wish we didn’t have to share.
This past week, we ran a poll asking if people believed politics played a part in our campground’s approval process. 94% said yes.
We’ve been asked over and over — was there political influence behind Stafford County’s “Tents Only” restriction on our by-right campground?
We’ve said yes… but now you can decide.
WHO IS PAUL MILDE
-
Currently serves as a Virginia Delegate and is running for re-election.
-
Former Stafford County Supervisor (Aquia District).
-
In his capacity as Aquia District Supervisor, Paul served as Chairman of the Board’s Community and Economic Development Committee, as well as having served on its Infrastructure Committee
-
And from his own website:
“A champion of protecting the Crow’s Nest Peninsula, Paul is the founder and chairman of savecrowsnest.com, a campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of the importance of protecting the Crow’s Nest Peninsula. Paul led the efforts to create the 2,872-acre Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve while on the Board of Supervisors.
Further, Paul’s initiatives of the County’s Transfer of Development Rights and Purchase of Development Rights programs were instrumental in protecting thousands of more acres throughout Stafford.”
It’s clear Paul has deep ties to the Crow’s Nest area — but how far do those connections go when it comes to private property rights nearby?
Here is the FOIA and you can read the message for yourself and decide.
THE EMAIL
From: Paul Milde pvmilde@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, September 2, 2024 • 10:57 AM
To: Hunter Morin
Subject: Re: Belle Plains Campground Update
“Thanks Hunter. I am in agreement with Sarah, the county should let them know that primitive tents are all that will ever be permitted without a public hearing and a reclassification by the BoS.”
— Paul Milde
WHO REMEMBERS SARAH?
Yes — Sarah Southworth Forbush, the same person who wrote the now-infamous “Campground Demise Plan” email. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MBSPe18LU/
And the same opposition group that Deputy Supervisor Deuntay Diggs assured in a email that he would be working to have Campground and RV's taken out of the By-Right Status. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Czu9dwiWd/
And we saw Sarah's words Matched the Outcome!
Now we see Sarah was sending even more messages — saying our campground should NOW have no water, no electric, and no sewer.
She’s once again suggesting restrictions that don’t exist anywhere in the ordinance, and is Paul Milde agreeing with her?
FROM SARAH’S OWN WORDS (the email Milde is replying to)
"Stafford County knows what the McCleods’ ultimate plans include. Even if they were merely planning a dirt road with cleared spots for tents (primitive camping), the silt would be disconcerting. I read the correspondence between Stafford County and the McCleods and they are pushing back hard in a very threatening way about NOT merely having primitive tent camping, but to provide every camping site with sewer hookups, water AND electricity. This is NOT the primitive tent campground permitted ‘by-right.’ … Why do they not know there will not BE a ‘later time’? Why are they certain that once they break ground, they can fulfill all of their plans?”
“If Stafford County informs them right now that it will ONLY allow primitive camping and nothing more, most likely they would not continue with the project.”
Sarah Forbush Southworth
SUPERVISOR DIGGS RESPONDS:
Shortly after those exchanges, Deputy Supervisor Deuntay Diggs responded saying-
From: Deuntay T. Diggs DDiggs@staffordcountyva.gov
Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 • 5:47 p.m.
To: Hunter Morin hmorin@gemroi.com; SarahSouthworth@icloud.com
Subject: RE: Belle Plains Campground Update“I am working on this. I met with the county attorney this morning at 9:00 a.m. I’ll have additional information soon.”
— Deuntay T. Diggs, MPA
Board of Supervisors, George Washington District
What's New? Now its PRIMITIVE
Question is now, what else is Deuntay Diggs working on, the "Tents Only'' is already in action. Maybe, no hook ups for each site as Sarah and Milde each used the word "Primitive".
WHY THIS MATTERS
Paul Milde, a sitting state delegate and former county supervisor, agreed with Sarah’s recommendation/demand that Stafford County restrict our land to primitive tents only with no hook ups.
Sarah said the McLeods are pushing back hard on having just tent camping. Was getting Milde involved them calling for BACKUP?
"McCleods and they are pushing back hard in a very threatening way about NOT merely having primitive tent camping"
This shows that county leadership was already treating Paul and Sarah’s “Tents Only” recommendation seriously enough to bring the county attorney into the conversation.
SO, STAFFORD — WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should a state delegate be agreeing with a private citizen’s call to block a lawful, by-right project to the point it would not be fiscally profitable and the landowner would most likely walk away?
As Deputy/Board of Supervisor Deuntay Diggs stated
“The campground in my opinion isn’t really WORTH much, it’s not gonna be very FISCALLY PRODUCTIVE without RV’s, Trailers and things of that nature.” Deuntay Diggs in a townhall meeting
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DJLsHzrNf/
Legal Note:
Under Virginia law and the Dillon Rule, no county or elected official — including a politician — has the authority to alter, restrict, or reinterpret what a duly adopted ordinance lawfully allows. Doing so is considered ultra vires (beyond one’s legal power) and violates due process and the equal protection principles guaranteed by law.
So why would a politician — who swore to uphold the law — take it upon himself not to adhere to what the ordinance clearly permits?
If the county ordinance says one thing — but political voices are quietly saying another — is that fair government or government overreach?
You decide.
#StaffordCounty #CrowsNestOutdoorAdventure #ByRightMeansByRight #PoliticalInfluence #GovernmentOverreach #Transparency #Virginia
