Norfolk city, Virginia

Member School Board, Ward 1

2 candidates are tracked for Member School Board, Ward 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Adale M. Martin and Joshua L. Howell. Candidate information follows official Norfolk City election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

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.

What this office does

School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Adale M. Martin, is on the ballot.

Virginia › Norfolk City › Member School Board, Ward 1

Adale M. Martin

Independent Incumbent

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.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Joshua L. Howell

Independent

Top priorities

Transparency in school board decision-making
Accountability in district operations
Raising academic standards across Norfolk Public Schools

Per the campaign site.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMember School Board, Ward 2

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Member School Board, Ward 1 in 2026?

When is the Member School Board, Ward 1 election in Virginia?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Virginia are on the Virginia election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Norfolk city ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Norfolk city and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Virginia election office, or see the full Norfolk City sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Norfolk city ballot

10 tracked races in Norfolk city, Virginia. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Member School Board, Ward 3 Member School Board, Ward 4 Member School Board, Ward 5 See all 10 Norfolk city races

Candidate profiles

Adale M. Martin, full profile Joshua L. Howell, full profile Official Virginia election office