EmporiaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Emporia City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 2 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline to register to vote (Oct 23): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

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

Only District 7 voters choose between the two candidates. The District 1, 4 and 5 seats are also on the ballot, each with one candidate.

Deadline to register to vote · Oct 23

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

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

What the next council decides

01School funding4 sourced facts

Where it standsFor 2026-27 the council held the city's local contribution to Greensville County Public Schools level at $4,442,776.

What's on the tableThe next council sets the city's school contribution in the 2027-28 budget.

02School sales tax referendum3 sourced facts

Where it standsEmporia's Nov. 3 ballot asks whether the city may levy an additional sales tax of up to 1% for school construction or renovation.

What's on the tableIf voters say yes, the council decides whether to adopt an ordinance levying the tax.

  • The revenue from the additional sales tax could be used solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools in the city. Virginia Department of Elections
  • A yes vote authorizes the locality to consider adopting an ordinance to levy the additional sales tax. WAVY · Oct 2, 2026
  • The additional 1% sales tax would not apply to food purchased for home consumption or essential personal hygiene products. WAVY · Oct 2, 2026
03Water and sewer rates3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 2026-27 utility budget raised water and sewer rates 20%, effective July 1, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council sets water and sewer rates in future budgets.

04New police headquarters3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city is designing a new police headquarters with an estimated $20 million guaranteed maximum price.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to approve long-term borrowing to build it.

05City budget and outside funding4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a $62,747,774 budget for 2026-27 on a 5-2 vote and declined to restore airport funding.

What's on the tableThe next council writes the 2027-28 budget, including how much to give outside agencies such as the regional airport.

06Data centers2 sourced facts

Where it standsData centers came up at the June 2, 2026 council meeting, where a resident urged the council to consider their environmental impacts.

What's on the tableThe next council would weigh how the city handles any future data center development.

1 note on these statements

Clifton Threat, Mark S. Lilly and Doris T. White are unopposed for re-election to their council seats. Cardinal News · Sep 3, 2026

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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. 1. Should the city increase its local contribution to Greensville County Public Schools?

  2. 2. Should the city raise water and sewer rates to cover the utility's costs?

  3. 3. Should the city borrow to build the new $20 million police headquarters?

  4. 4. Should the city fund its share of the regional airport's grant match?

  5. 5. Should Emporia welcome data center development?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

7 stay (not up this year): Carolyn S. Carey, Mark S. Lilly, Carol Mercer, James C. Saunders, L. Dale Temple, Clifton Threat, Doris T. White4 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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