Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Colonial Heights City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Jennifer M. FrazierColonial Heights resident whose career includes commercial construction project management and rail yard work. Her statement says she organized a 2025 petition against a high-density development.5sourced
Betsy Gentry LuckIncumbentCouncilwoman8sourced
John E. PiotrowskiIncumbentVice Mayor and Councilman8sourced
Randolph F. Thomas, Jr.Colonial Heights resident who says he has past experience working with state and city governments.2sourced
John T. WoodIncumbentCouncilman10sourced

Three of the seven council seats are on the ballot. All voters in the city choose up to three of five candidates; the three incumbents are on the ballot.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

T. Gregory KochubaMayor of Colonial Heights, presiding at City Council meetings in 2026.5sourced Tricia L. PalmerMember of the Colonial Heights City Council in 2026.5sourced Craig R. SkalakMember of the Colonial Heights City Council in 2026.4sourced Brad E. SlaybaughMember of the Colonial Heights City Council in 2026.5sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesHousing density and rezoning, Taxes, budget and employee pay, City purchases of property Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration and mail-ballot application deadline

Fri, Oct 23, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Housing density and rezoning

Where it standsCouncil rejected a rezoning for 82.7 acres at Mt Pleasant/Old Towne Creek in November 2025 on a 1-6 vote.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on future requests to change land from low-density to higher-density residential use.

The request would have changed an 82.7-acre parcel from RL low density residential to RH high density residential. Colonial Heights City Council agenda item: Ordinances 25-18 and 25-19 (November 12, 2025) · Nov 12, 2025
The Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend denial of the land use change and rezoning. Colonial Heights City Council agenda item: Ordinances 25-18 and 25-19 (November 12, 2025) · Nov 12, 2025
Council voted 1-6 against ordinances 25-18 and 25-19 on November 12, 2025; only Brad Slaybaugh voted yes. Colonial Heights City Council minutes, November 12, 2025 · Nov 12, 2025

Taxes, budget and employee pay

Where it standsThe fiscal 2027 budget keeps the real estate tax rate at $1.20 per $100 and gives full-time city employees a 4% raise.

What's on the tableThe next council sets future tax rates and pay as assessments and operating costs change.

The City Manager said the $1.20 rate is the same rate in effect since 2017, although assessments have changed over time. Colonial Heights City Council special meeting minutes, April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026
Staff projected real estate tax revenue of about $29 million for the upcoming fiscal year, an increase of about $1.5 million over the prior year. Colonial Heights City Council special meeting minutes, April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026
Council approved a 4% salary increase for each full-time employee as of July 1, 2026, on a 7-0 vote. Colonial Heights City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026

City purchases of property

Where it standsCouncil agreed to buy the Town Hall Center on the Boulevard in March 2026 and the Colonial Christian Church property in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees financing, leases and what the city builds or does with these properties.

The Town Hall Center purchase price is $3.3 million, with about $200,400 in one-time closing costs. Colonial Heights City Council special meeting minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026
The mayor said tenant leases generate about $324,000 a year against estimated annual debt service of about $273,000. Colonial Heights City Council special meeting minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026
The church property at 295 Dunlop Farms Boulevard is intended for a community building and senior center, and council passed a resolution declaring intent to reimburse expenditures with bond proceeds. Colonial Heights City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026

Trash fees and aging infrastructure

Where it standsCouncil raised the monthly solid waste charge on a 5-2 vote in June 2026, and candidates cite aging infrastructure as a challenge.

What's on the tableThe next council decides how to pay for solid waste service, roads, utilities and other infrastructure.

Ordinance 26-14, increasing the monthly charge for solid waste collection and recycling, passed 5-2 on June 9, 2026. Colonial Heights City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Betsy Gentry Luck names aging infrastructure within the city's limited land as one of its greatest challenges. League of Women Voters VOTE411
Randolph F. Thomas, Jr. names aging power junctions, pump stations, lines and pipelines among major issues. League of Women Voters VOTE411

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. How should the city handle requests to build higher-density housing on land zoned for single-family homes?
2. What should the council do with the real estate tax rate, now $1.20 per $100?
3. How should the city handle pay for police, fire, public works and other employees?
4. Should the city buy commercial property to shape development?
5. How should the city cover rising trash collection costs?

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 beginsVirginia Department of ElectionsSep 18, 2026
Voter registration and mail-ballot application deadlineVirginia Department of ElectionsOct 23, 2026
Last day of early in-person votingVirginia Department of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
Election DayVirginia Department of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): T. Gregory Kochuba, Tricia L. Palmer, Craig R. Skalak, Brad E. Slaybaugh3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Colonial Heights is organized under the council-manager form of government; the seven council members are elected at large for staggered four-year terms. League of Women Voters VOTE411
The council elects a mayor from among its members to serve a two-year term and preside over meetings. League of Women Voters VOTE411
The local offices on the November 3, 2026 ballot are City Council, 3 seats, 4-year term. Colonial Heights

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