The Ballot Brief
Portsmouth city, Virginia

Member City Council, Portsmouth City

5 candidates are tracked for Member City Council, Portsmouth City on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr., Mark A. Hugel, Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, Mark M. Whitaker and William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.. Candidate information follows official Portsmouth City election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

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.

What this office does

City council member. The council is the city's legislative body. It adopts the city budget and tax rate, passes ordinances on zoning, public safety, utilities and local services, and hires the city manager where the charter provides one. Members may represent a district or the whole city.

This race. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr., Mark A. Hugel, William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr..

Virginia › Portsmouth City › Member City Council, Portsmouth City

Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.

Independent Incumbent

Top priorities
  • 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.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mark A. Hugel

Independent Incumbent

Top priorities
  • 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.

Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Lisa L. Lucas-Burke

Independent

Top priorities
  • Revitalizing and building out Portsmouth's waterfront

Per the campaign site.

Biography

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

Biography

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

Biography

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.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Member City Council, Portsmouth City in 2026?

5 candidates are tracked for Member City Council, Portsmouth City on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr., Mark A. Hugel, Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, Mark M. Whitaker and William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.. Candidate information follows official Portsmouth City election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Member City Council, Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth City sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Portsmouth city ballot

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

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Candidate profiles
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr., full profileMark A. Hugel, full profileLisa L. Lucas-Burke, full profileMark M. Whitaker, full profileWilliam E. "Bill" Moody, Jr., full profileOfficial Virginia election office