Portsmouth City Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
13 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 2 Portsmouth City races, led by the Member City Council, Portsmouth City contest.
School board
Member School Board, Portsmouth CityQuniana D. "Q" Futrell (Independent) · Tamara L. Shewmake (Independent) · Luis F. Padilla (Independent) · Ingrid P. Whitaker (Independent) · Denzel E. Glover (Independent) · Cardell C. Patillo, Jr. (Independent) · Melvin Cotton Jr. (Independent) · Justin V. Randall-Jenkins (Independent)
Quniana D. "Q" Futrell Independent Incumbent
- Early literacy and academic readiness alongside emotional and social development
- Proactive school safety practices and consistent accountability
- Competitive pay and retention strategies for school staff
Per the campaign site.
About Quniana D. "Q" Futrell
Quniana D. "Q" Futrell co-owns Creative Learners Academy, serves as CEO of ECE Firm LLC, and is executive director of the nonprofit Building Resilience in Communities Inc., per her campaign site. A published author with an Ed.S degree who is pursuing a doctorate from Liberty University, she is the mother of three current and former Portsmouth Public Schools students, per the same source, and is seeking a second school board term.
Tamara L. Shewmake Independent Incumbent
- Early literacy instruction
- Financial literacy education
- Career and Technical Education vocational training
Per the campaign site.
About Tamara L. Shewmake
Shewmake is a Portsmouth native who earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and an MBA, both from Norfolk State University, per the campaign site. She was elected to the Portsmouth City School Board on November 6, 2018, and is in her eighth year and second term of service, per the campaign site.
Luis F. Padilla Independent
Luis F. Padilla is a Portsmouth resident who has spoken publicly to city council about the financial impact of a proposed sales-tax increase for school construction, per WHRO. He is a candidate for an at-large seat on the Portsmouth School Board. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Ingrid P. Whitaker Independent
Dr. Ingrid P. Whitaker is a tenured associate professor of sociology at Old Dominion University, per an ODU article. She previously served on the Portsmouth School Board from 2014 to 2018 and was elected again in 2020, holding a Ph.D. in sociology and social work from the University of Michigan, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Denzel E. Glover Independent
- Safe classrooms
- Supporting educators
- Leadership that listens to families
Per the candidate fundraising page.
About Denzel E. Glover
Denzel E. Glover is a parent and community advocate running for the Portsmouth School Board, per his candidate fundraising page. He says strong schools are the foundation of a strong city and calls for leadership that is present and accountable, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Cardell C. Patillo, Jr. Independent Incumbent
- Increase staff compensation for school employees
- Expand career and technical education course offerings
- Support equitable education so all students can succeed
Per the campaign site.
About Cardell C. Patillo, Jr.
Dr. Cardell C. Patillo, Jr. chairs the Portsmouth School Board, per the district's official roster; his term expires December 31, 2026, and he was first elected in November 2014. He has served as the full-time Youth Pastor at Grove Baptist Church since June 2009 and published a book on parenting through divorce in 2013, per the district. He holds degrees from Liberty University and Virginia Union University and a doctorate in health administration from Virginia University of Lynchburg, per the same source.
Melvin Cotton Jr. Independent Incumbent
Dr. Melvin Cotton, Jr. serves as Vice-Chair of the Portsmouth School Board and has served since 2021, per the district's official roster. He is pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Portsmouth and previously pastored New Genesis Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, per the same source. He holds degrees from Liberty University and Virginia Union University, per the district. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Justin V. Randall-Jenkins Independent
Justin V. Randall-Jenkins is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Portsmouth City, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
8 certified candidates for Member School Board, Portsmouth City on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Quniana D. "Q" Futrell and Tamara L. Shewmake and Cardell C. Patillo, Jr. and Melvin Cotton Jr. are 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.
Full race pageCities and towns
Member City Council, Portsmouth CityVernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. (Independent) · Mark A. Hugel (Independent) · Lisa L. Lucas-Burke (Independent) · Mark M. Whitaker (Independent) · William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. (Independent)
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. Independent Incumbent
- A public safety strategy emphasizing violence prevention
- Sustainable, affordable housing for all residents
- Safe routes for students and investment in mental health and academic support
Per the campaign site.
About Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. previously served on the Portsmouth School Board before his election to city council, per his campaign site. He is seeking a second term on the council, per the same source, and cites public safety, affordable housing and student support among his priorities.
Mark A. Hugel Independent Incumbent
- Expanding STEM programs and pipelines from Portsmouth schools to college, military service and skilled trades
- Connecting residents to jobs, including in the maritime industry
- Investing in public safety technology and competitive pay for first responders
Per the campaign site.
About Mark A. Hugel
Mark A. Hugel is a retired Navy rear admiral with 32 years of Navy service and a long-time Portsmouth resident, per his campaign site. First elected to city council in 2022, he is running for a second term, per the same source, citing education, employment and public safety as priorities.
Lisa L. Lucas-Burke Independent
- Revitalizing and building out Portsmouth's waterfront
Per the campaign site.
About Lisa L. Lucas-Burke
Lisa L. Lucas-Burke is a former Portsmouth vice mayor who served on city council from 2017 to 2025, including stints as vice mayor, before stepping down to run for mayor in 2024, per 13newsnow.com. She is running for a return to city council as an independent candidate, citing waterfront revitalization as a top priority, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Mark M. Whitaker Independent
Mark M. Whitaker is a pastor and former professor who previously served on Portsmouth City Council from 2014 to 2024, per his campaign site. He is running to return to the council alongside a joint campaign with fellow candidate Ingrid Whitaker under a shared "Forward Together" banner, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. Independent Incumbent
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. has served on Portsmouth City Council continuously since being first elected in 1998 and has served as Vice Mayor since 2004, per WAVY.com reporting, making him the longest continuously serving member in council history. He is seeking an eighth term, per the same reporting. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
5 certified candidates for Member City Council, Portsmouth City on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. and Mark A. Hugel and William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. are 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.
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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 Portsmouth City, Virginia on November 3, 2026?
Portsmouth City sample ballot 2026: see where the school board and city council candidates stand on schools and public safety. 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 →
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