Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Chesapeake City Council Election 2026

5 of 9

council seats up

Vote for up to 5

15 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

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City Council · Vote for up to 5

Santiera Brown-YearlingRegistered respiratory therapist who serves on the Chesapeake Commission on Health and Well-Being. Was appointed to the Virginia Advisory Board on Respiratory Care in 2018 and reappointed in 2023.5sourced
Nichelle BuffalowHas led Buffalow Family and Friends, a Chesapeake nonprofit that fights food insecurity, for 17 years. Former City of Chesapeake employee.3sourced
Brandy L.A. DeelCasualty claims specialist at Progressive. Holds a bachelor's in business administration from Upper Iowa University.2sourced
Ozan M. "Oz" DuranFormer debt management specialist for the City of Norfolk. Holds a bachelor's in applied math from Old Dominion University.4sourced
Gayle M. GilmoreCo-pastor of Grace Entwined Ministries and a retired school guidance counselor.4sourced
E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies Jr.IncumbentCouncil Member (appointed September 2025); term ends Dec. 31, 202610sourced
Janelle K. "Dr. J" St. LouisClinical pharmacist and small business owner who serves on the Chesapeake Commission on Health and Well-Being. Serves on the executive board of the American Heart Association Hampton Roads.3sourced
Todd A. MayfieldRetired U.S. Navy officer and engineer who has served on Chesapeake's Economic Development Authority. Served 22 years as a Naval officer and holds a master's in applied physics.3sourced
Jennifer P. NaperalaTeacher with Chesapeake Public Schools. Holds a master's in education from Old Dominion University.4sourced
Amanda L. NewinsIncumbentCouncil Member; term ends Dec. 31, 202610sourced
Daniel E. "Lieutenant Dan" RosinskiSenior associate attorney at BKB PLLC and a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve. Served on active duty as a Navy judge advocate from 2014 to 2025 and is a member of the Chesapeake Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Committee.4sourced
Clayton L. SpruillMember of the Chesapeake Planning Commission and a retired administrator from Chesapeake Public Schools. Has served on the boards of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.4sourced
Daniel W. WhitakerIncumbentCouncil Member; term ends Dec. 31, 202611sourced
Eric V. Wray IIFuneral director and embalmer with over 25 years in the funeral industry and a U.S. Navy veteran. Appointed to the Virginia State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 2011 and reappointed in 2023.4sourced
George M. YacusNavy veteran who served 20 years as a pilot and naval officer; teaches management courses for Cambridge College at Bay Path University.4sourced

Five of the nine council seats are on this ballot. Every voter in the city can vote for up to five candidates, and the top five vote-getters win. The mayor is not up until 2028.

2 notes on these statements

Nichelle Buffalow, Clayton L. Spruill and Brandy L.A. Deel did not attend the September 2026 candidate forum hosted by the Women's Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 17, 2026

Nearly all candidates have signed an online petition urging against data center development in Chesapeake, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 17, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Patricia Y. "Pat" KingCouncil Member; term ends Dec. 31, 20288sourced S.Z. "Debbie" RitterVice Mayor; term ends Dec. 31, 20288sourced Les Smith, Jr.Council Member; term ends Dec. 31, 20288sourced Richard W. "Rick" WestMayor; term ends Dec. 31, 20288sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Growth, housing and schools, Budget and taxes Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Deadline to register to vote or apply for a mail-in ballot

Fri, Oct 23, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council voted 9-0 to make data centers a conditional use that needs council approval, ending by-right data centers; action on data center applications is paused for up to eight months.

What's on the tableThe next council will finish the city's data center policy and rule on any data center applications that come forward.

The Planning Director said about 27,000 parcels within 500 feet of residential areas would have allowed a data center by right before the change. Chesapeake City Council · Aug 18, 2026
On July 21, 2026, the council voted 9-0 to defer action on data center land use applications for eight months or until it acts on the pending Comprehensive Plan amendment. Chesapeake City Council · Jul 21, 2026
In June 2025 the council denied the Etheridge Lakes data center rezoning on Centerville Turnpike, 7-0. Chesapeake City Council · Jun 17, 2025

Growth, housing and schools

Where it standsThe council decides residential rezonings case by case; in June 2026 it approved the 43-home Viridian Reserve North development 7-2 despite neighbors' concerns about school crowding.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote on residential rezonings and on how school, road and drainage projects are funded.

The City Council voted 7-2 to approve the rezoning for the 43-home Viridian Reserve North development off Kegman Road. WTKR · Jun 17, 2026
Council Members King and Ritter voted no on the Viridian Reserve North rezoning. Chesapeake City Council · Jun 16, 2026
In July 2026 the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Mears Creek rezoning of about 13.2 acres to R-8 residential, 7-2. Chesapeake Planning Commission · Jul 8, 2026

Budget and taxes

Where it standsThe $1.7 billion FY 2027 budget kept the real estate tax rate at $1.01 and the personal property tax rate at $4.08 per $100 of assessed value.

What's on the tableThe next council writes the FY 2028 budget, sets tax rates and votes each year on the council's own cost-of-living raise.

The City Council approved the FY 2026-27 operating budget 9-0 on May 12, 2026. Chesapeake City Council · May 12, 2026
The budget funds 3.5% employee wage increases and at least $302 million for schools. The Virginian-Pilot · May 16, 2026
The real estate tax rate stayed at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value, and the personal property tax rate stayed at $4.08 per $100. The Virginian-Pilot · May 16, 2026
In June 2026 the council voted 5-4 to give the mayor and council a 3.5% cost-of-living raise starting July 1, 2027; the council will have to approve such raises each year. WHRO · Jun 10, 2026

Tolls

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council voted 5-4 to raise some toll rates and fees on the Chesapeake Expressway and Dominion Boulevard Veterans Bridge and extend the toll schedule through 2046.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the toll schedule and the city's two tolled roads.

Council members Pat King, Amanda Newins, Ella Ward and Daniel Whitaker opposed the toll changes. The Virginian-Pilot · Feb 25, 2026
On the Chesapeake Expressway, trips for drivers in the E-ZPass discount program rose from $1 to $2.50. The Virginian-Pilot · Feb 25, 2026
City staff said revenue from the Chesapeake Expressway declined, amounting to a net revenue loss of $2 million. The Virginian-Pilot · Feb 25, 2026

Collective bargaining

Where it standsThe General Assembly passed SB378/HB1263 on collective bargaining by public employees; city staff estimated up-front costs of about $1 million.

What's on the tableThe next council decides when to fund labor relations positions in anticipation of collective bargaining.

City staff listed collective bargaining by public employees among legislation passed by the General Assembly, with an unknown effective date and total cost. City of Chesapeake · Apr 14, 2026
Chesapeake Mayor Rick West joined the other Hampton Roads mayors in a letter asking the General Assembly to preserve local control over collective bargaining. WAVY

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Should Chesapeake allow large data centers?
2. What should the city do about the personal property (car) tax?
3. Should the mayor and council get a yearly cost-of-living raise like city employees?
4. Was the council right to raise some Chesapeake Expressway and Dominion Boulevard tolls in 2026?
5. Should Chesapeake embrace collective bargaining for city workers?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Early in-person voting beginsCity of Chesapeake · Oct 1, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Deadline to register to vote or apply for a mail-in ballotCity of Chesapeake · Oct 1, 2026Oct 23, 2026
Last day of early in-person votingCity of Chesapeake · Oct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Election DayCity of Chesapeake · Oct 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Patricia Y. "Pat" King, S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter, Les Smith, Jr., Richard W. "Rick" West5 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Chesapeake's mayor and City Council members are elected at large by Chesapeake citizens. City of Chesapeake
Council elections are held every two years and mayoral elections every four years; the mayor and council members serve four-year terms. City of Chesapeake
The council chooses one of its members to be vice mayor by majority vote. City of Chesapeake
The terms of Council Members C. Jeff Bunn, E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies, Jr., Amanda L. Newins, Ella P. Ward and Daniel W. Whitaker expire in 2026. City of Chesapeake
Five at-large seats are on the ballot, with three incumbents and 12 other candidates; the top five vote-getters will be elected. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026
The Virginia Department of Elections lists 15 qualified candidates for five Chesapeake City Council seats. Virginia Department of Elections

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