Norfolk City Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
18 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 10 Norfolk City races, led by the Member City Council, Ward 1 contest.
School board
Member School Board, Ward 1Adale M. Martin (Independent) · Joshua L. Howell (Independent)
Adale M. Martin
Top priorities
- Raising graduation outcomes so seniors are prepared to be enrolled, employed or enlisted after high school
- Expanding school safety resources across all Norfolk Public Schools campuses
- Retaining and strengthening the teaching workforce
Per the campaign site.
About Adale M. Martin
Dr. Adale M. Martin is an education policy professional with expertise in special education advocacy, per her campaign site. First elected to the Norfolk School Board in 2018, she has since served as board chair, per the same source, and represents Ward 1.
Joshua L. Howell
Top priorities
- Transparency in school board decision-making
- Accountability in district operations
- Raising academic standards across Norfolk Public Schools
Per the campaign site.
About Joshua L. Howell
Joshua L. Howell works as Coordinator of Accreditation and Compliance at Tidewater Community College and teaches as a graduate-level instructor in higher education, per his campaign site. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University, is a Norfolk resident, and serves on the Virginia Zoo board, per the same source.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Ward 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Adale M. Martin is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, Ward 2Veleka S. Gatling (Independent) · Michael C. Spencer (Independent) · Shawn D. Wilkerson, Jr. (Independent)
Veleka S. Gatling (Independent), Michael C. Spencer (Independent) and Shawn D. Wilkerson, Jr. (Independent) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Ward 2.
Veleka S. Gatling
Top priorities
- Student success through inclusive, student-centered instruction
- Partnering with the community so schools address the needs of the neighborhoods they serve
- Effective, transparent board governance
Per the campaign site.
About Veleka S. Gatling
Dr. Veleka S. Gatling serves as Associate Vice President for Community Relations at Old Dominion University and has more than 30 years of K-12 educational leadership experience, per her campaign site. She began as an inclusion teacher in Norfolk Public Schools and advanced through principal roles in Norfolk and Suffolk before serving as an executive director in Virginia Beach City Public Schools, per the same source; she holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.
Michael C. Spencer
Michael C. Spencer is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Ward 2, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Shawn D. Wilkerson, Jr.
Shawn D. Wilkerson, Jr. is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Ward 2, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
3 certified candidates for Member School Board, Ward 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, Ward 3Jodi M. Slaughter (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jodi M. Slaughter
Jodi M. Slaughter is a leader, counselor, educator and entrepreneur with more than twenty years of experience supporting children, families and communities, per a WAVY.com candidate profile. She won a November 2025 special election for the Ward 3 school board seat and was sworn in in January 2026, per Norfolk Public Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
1 certified candidate for Member School Board, Ward 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Jodi M. Slaughter is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, Ward 4Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe (Independent) · Candiase B. Driver (Independent)
Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe
Top priorities
- Student achievement for all students
- Engaging every family
- Effective governance and safe learning environments
Per the campaign site.
About Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe
Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe chairs the Norfolk School Board, representing Ward 4, per the district's official roster. Her campaign site emphasizes student achievement, family engagement and governance for the division as her priorities for a new term.
Candiase B. Driver
Candiase B. Driver is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Ward 4, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Ward 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, Ward 5Ken D. Paulson (Independent) · Jevon W. Baskerville (Independent)
Ken D. Paulson
Kenneth Paulson currently serves as a member of the Norfolk Public Schools School Board, per Norfolk Public Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Jevon W. Baskerville
Jevon W. Baskerville is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Ward 5, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Ward 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Ken D. Paulson is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageCities and towns
Member City Council, Ward 1Scott R. Guirlinger (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Scott R. Guirlinger (Independent) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council, Ward 1.
Scott R. Guirlinger
Scott R. Guirlinger works as a software design manager and serves as president of the Wards Corner civic league, per his campaign material and the civic league's website. He qualified as an independent candidate for Norfolk City Council's Ward 1 seat for the November 2026 election, per the city's qualified-candidates list.
1 certified candidate for Member City Council, Ward 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council, Ward 2Courtney R. Doyle (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Courtney R. Doyle
Top priorities
- Education outcomes for Ward 2 schools and students
- Safe neighborhoods
- Addressing flooding and sea-level rise in the ward
Per the campaign site.
About Courtney R. Doyle
Courtney R. Doyle has a background in business and education, including work connected to Norfolk Public Schools and Maury High School, per her campaign site. She holds the Norfolk City Council Ward 2 seat, per the city's official roster of elected officials, and her campaign cites education, safe neighborhoods and flooding and sea-level rise as priorities for the ward.
1 certified candidate for Member City Council, Ward 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Courtney R. Doyle is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council, Ward 3Sikaiadah Newton (Independent) · Mamie B. Johnson (Independent)
Sikaiadah Newton
Sikaiadah Newton is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council, Ward 3, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Mamie B. Johnson
Mamie B. Johnson is a career educator who spent 14 years teaching with Norfolk Public Schools and six years as an Instructional Specialist, later working as a teacher specialist in math and reading with Virginia Beach Public Schools, per her official Norfolk city bio. A Maury High School graduate with a bachelor's degree in education from Norfolk State University, she holds the Ward 3 council seat and serves on the Virginia First Cities Coalition and Hampton Roads Workforce Council, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member City Council, Ward 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Mamie B. Johnson is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council, Ward 4John E. "J.P." Paige (Independent) · Jacquetta D. Garris (Independent) · Jazmine Emily Garcia (Independent)
John E. "J.P." Paige
John E. "J.P." Paige has operated a small bonding business for more than 20 years, per his official Norfolk city bio. A U.S. Air Force veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, he holds a Master of Science in Management from Troy University and later served as an adjunct professor at Norfolk State University, per the same source. He represents Ward 4 on the city council. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Jacquetta D. Garris
Jacquetta D. Garris is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council, Ward 4, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Jazmine Emily Garcia
Jazmine Emily Garcia serves as chair and consumer representative on the Norfolk Community Services Board, per the board's official roster. She qualified as a candidate for the Ward 4 city council seat for the November 2026 election. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
3 certified candidates for Member City Council, Ward 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; John E. "J.P." Paige is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council, Ward 5Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr.
Top priorities
- Continued advocacy and constituent service for Ward 5
Per the campaign site.
About Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr.
Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. holds the Ward 5 seat on the Norfolk City Council and has worked on developing Bay Oaks Park during his tenure, per his campaign site. He has been endorsed by the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Norfolk Police Benevolent Association, per the same source.
1 certified candidate for Member City Council, Ward 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Virginia elects its governor, statewide officers and General Assembly in odd years, and most county constitutional officers in 2027, so the November 3, 2026 ballot carries the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, three statewide constitutional amendments, and the local offices on the even-year cycle: city councils, school boards, town councils and mayors, a few county board and constitutional-officer special elections, and the House of Delegates District 20 special, per the Department of Elections' certified candidate lists. Congressional nominees were set by the August 4 primary; there are no runoffs.
Who is on the ballot in Norfolk City, Virginia on November 3, 2026?
Norfolk City sample ballot 2026: see where the city council and school board candidates stand on schools and the budget. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Virginia?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Virginia are listed on the Virginia election hub. Virginia election hub →
How do I see my exact Norfolk City ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →