Member School Board, Portsmouth City

Per the campaign site.

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

Per the campaign site.

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 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.

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.

Per the candidate fundraising page.

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.

Per the campaign site.

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.

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 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.