UPDATED, Oct. 6: Lenard Diggins, who was Select Board vice chair, has moved to Somerville and submitted a letter of resignation from the elected board on which he’s served since 2020. Diggins submitted his letter and read remarks about his time on the board at the meeting on Oct. 6.
The resignation is effective as of Oct. 7. That official date is important as it triggers a 30-day period by which the remaining four elected members of the board and the elected town moderator must appoint an interim member, who would serve until the spring town election. The local voting is tentatively set for Saturday, April 4, 2026, and is expected to be separate from any override planned for the next year.
Traditionally, the board has appointed a former member to serve until the next town election, which usually happens on the first Saturday in April. The board set that they will name a replacement for Diggins at its meeting on Oct. 20. Board members and the town moderator have opened a period where those interested in serving as an interim Select Board member can make their interest known. Those interested need to submit their names by Oct. 15 at 4 p.m.
There seemed to be a consensus that the person approved should be someone who is not seeking to keep the board seat by election, as the appointment could be seen as giving someone an unfair advantage of incumbency. They did not place any limits on the applications.
After Diggins’ speech, the board members expressed their gratitude for his time on the board and commitment to the town. Diggins offered that he would continue to be involved in the town, but would hold no formal position. He joked that he might apply for the position of poet laureate, a position that no longer requires town residency.
As of late last week, Diggins had not changed his address or registered to vote elsewhere, but “nearly all of my possessions have been moved to Somerville and therefore I will be resigning,” Diggins wrote in a reply to a YourArlington query.
In an email Diggins sent on Oct. 1 to his campaign supporters, with “Resignation *and* continued engagement” in the subject line, he wrote:
“I wanted to contact my Select Board colleagues before letting you all know that due to relocating to Somerville, I am in the process of resigning from the Select Board. I will be on the Board until at least
Oct. 6, and I intend to continue making meaningful contributions to the civic life of Arlington for the foreseeable future.
“I’m exhausted now due to lots of moving yesterday and only 3 hours of sleep last night, but I welcome conversations with any of you sooner and later.
“I can’t thank you enough for all of your support, but I hope to repay you with dividends by continuing my efforts to make Arlington and the region in which it resides better for us all! Sincerely, Len.”
This story, published on Oct. 2, 2025, was updated.
