Suffolk City Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
15 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 8 Suffolk City races, led by the Member City Council, Chuckatuck Borough contest.
School board
Member School Board, Chuckatuck BoroughKarima M. Lockwood (Independent) · Kim A. Slingluff (Independent)
Karima M. Lockwood
Karima M. Lockwood is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Chuckatuck Borough, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Kim A. Slingluff
Slingluff serves as the Chuckatuck Borough representative on the Suffolk Public Schools Board, per Suffolk Public Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Chuckatuck Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Kim A. Slingluff 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, Cypress BoroughKaren L. Jenkins (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Karen L. Jenkins
Jenkins serves as the Cypress Borough representative on the Suffolk Public Schools Board, per Suffolk Public Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
1 certified candidate for Member School Board, Cypress Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Karen L. Jenkins 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, Holy Neck BoroughDawnMarie Brittingham (Independent) · Wendy M. VanHosen (Independent)
DawnMarie Brittingham
Top priorities
- Closer scrutiny of school division bills, payroll and budget proposals with more detailed financial reporting
- Stronger parental voice in children's education
- Stronger law-enforcement presence and emergency preparedness in schools
Per the campaign site.
About DawnMarie Brittingham
Brittingham has worked as an educator in Suffolk for the past thirty years and has raised eight children, per her campaign site. She has served on the Suffolk School Board for about three and a half years.
Wendy M. VanHosen
VanHosen is a minister who leads VanHosen Ministries, per her own website. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Jakes Divinity School in partnership with George Fox University, an Executive Doctorate in education from the College of William & Mary, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University, a Master of Education from Old Dominion University, and a bachelor's degree in business marketing from Hampton University. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Holy Neck Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; DawnMarie Brittingham 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, Suffolk BoroughJeffrey E. Ferrin (Independent) · Steven Cheeks (Independent)
Jeffrey E. Ferrin (Independent) and Steven Cheeks (Independent) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Suffolk Borough.
Jeffrey E. Ferrin
Jeffrey E. Ferrin is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Suffolk Borough, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Steven Cheeks
Steven Cheeks is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Suffolk Borough, 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, Suffolk Borough 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 pageCities and towns
Member City Council, Chuckatuck BoroughMary Ellen Hill (Independent) · Shelley S. Butler Barlow (Independent)
Mary Ellen Hill
Mary Ellen Hill is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council, Chuckatuck Borough, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Shelley S. Butler Barlow
Top priorities
- Supporting public safety, dependable infrastructure and city services
- Making responsible fiscal decisions and planning thoughtfully for growth
- Protecting farmland, open space and the rural character of Chuckatuck
Per the campaign site.
About Shelley S. Butler Barlow
Butler Barlow operates Cotton Plains Farm with her husband and has worked in agriculture for nearly 40 years, per the city of Suffolk's official website. She was appointed to the Suffolk City Council in February 2021 representing Chuckatuck Borough, was elected in 2022, and was sworn in for a full term on January 3, 2023.
2 certified candidates for Member City Council, Chuckatuck Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Shelley S. Butler Barlow 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, Cypress BoroughWill J. Smith (Independent) · Leroy Bennett (Independent)
Will J. Smith
Top priorities
- Listening-centered leadership that reflects community voices in council decisions
- Practical, collaborative solutions and accountability as Suffolk grows and changes
Per the campaign site.
About Will J. Smith
Smith is a lifelong Suffolk resident who was named to Virginia Business magazine's 2026 Forty Under 40 list at age 30, per his campaign site. He describes himself as a community advocate seeking a Suffolk City Council seat representing Cypress Borough.
Leroy Bennett
Bennett has represented the Cypress Borough on the Suffolk City Council since 2014, after first being elected to the council in 1996 as the Nansemond Borough representative, per the City of Suffolk. He served as Vice Mayor from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2015 to 2022. Bennett is a retired general foreman at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation and served in the United States Navy. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member City Council, Cypress Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Leroy Bennett 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, Holy Neck BoroughTimothy J. Johnson (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Timothy J. Johnson
Johnson has represented the Holy Neck Borough on the Suffolk City Council since his election in November 2014, per the City of Suffolk. He owns and operates Johnson's Gardens Inc. and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
1 certified candidate for Member City Council, Holy Neck Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Timothy J. 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, Suffolk BoroughJohn T. Rector (Independent) · Tyron D. Riddick (Independent) · Dwight S. "D.J." James (Independent)
John T. Rector
Rector was elected to the Suffolk City Council in November 2022, representing the Suffolk Borough, per the City of Suffolk. He is a Realtor with Chorey and Associates Realty and previously served as vice president of Berkley Machine Works and Foundry Company. Rector also served on the Suffolk Planning Commission, including as its vice chair, and holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Tyron D. Riddick
Riddick currently represents Suffolk Borough on the Suffolk School Board and is running for a Suffolk City Council seat, per WTKR. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Dwight S. "D.J." James
Top priorities
- Judging leaders by results already delivered rather than future promises
- Greater community engagement and listening to residents
Per the campaign site.
About Dwight S. "D.J." James
Dwight S. "D.J." James is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council, Suffolk Borough, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list.
3 certified candidates for Member City Council, Suffolk Borough on the November 3, 2026 ballot; John T. Rector 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
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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 Suffolk City, Virginia on November 3, 2026?
Suffolk City sample ballot 2026: see where the city council and school board candidates stand on the budget 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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