Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Lynchburg City Council Election 2026

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council seats up

Vote for up to 3

9 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 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

Chris M. BoswellDowntown Lynchburg business owner and former president of the Downtown Lynchburg Association board.3sourced
Veronica T. BrattonServed four years as chair of the Lynchburg City Republican Committee, according to her campaign website.4sourced
Christina Anne DelzingaroCEO of Community Access Network, a nonprofit health care provider she helped found in 2018.3sourced
R. Dave Henderson JrOwner of The Water Dog restaurant in downtown Lynchburg and vice chair of the city Planning Commission.3sourced
Nathaniel X. "Nat" MarshallRetired after a 40-year BWXT career; has served on local boards including United Way.3sourced
Martin J. MisjunsIncumbentAt-large council member since 2023, former Lynchburg fire captain and Coast Guard Reserve veteran.11sourced
Stephanie T. ReedIncumbentCEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg and an at-large council member since 2023.9sourced
Eli "Shawn Hunter" RybinniLeader of the Peacemakers organization, running as an independent without a slate.4sourced
Larry L. TaylorIncumbentMayor of Lynchburg since 2025 and owner of a contracting and restoration business. Started on the City Council in 2023.9sourced

Three of the seven council seats, the at-large seats, are on this ballot; the four ward seats come due in 2028.

3 notes on these statements

James "Trae" Watkins withdrew from the race in August 2026 and is not on the nine-candidate list. Cardinal News · Aug 8, 2026

Six candidates who sought the Republican nomination filed as independents after the state party voided the results of the May 30 local firehouse primary. Cardinal News · Jun 24, 2026

Chris M. Boswell did not take part in the Sept. 16 candidate forum; organizers said he was out of the area on business. WSET · Sep 16, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Curt DiemerVice Mayor and Councilmember, Ward III3sourced Chris FaraldiCouncilmember, Ward IV6sourced Jacqueline TimmerCouncilmember, Ward I4sourced Sterling A. WilderCouncilmember, Ward II5sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesTaxes and the budget, Public safety and surveillance, Schools and school funding Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day of early in-person voting

Sat, Oct 31, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Taxes and the budget

Where it standsThe council adopted its FY 2027 budget on May 26, 2026 in split votes, after a 2025 fight over real estate and lodging tax rates.

What's on the tableThe next council writes the FY 2028 budget and sets tax and utility rates.

The council voted 4-3 on May 26, 2026 to appropriate the FY 2027 General Fund operating budget, excluding schools and discretionary external providers. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
A proposed lodging tax increase from 6.5% to 12.5% and from $1 to $10 per room per night was denied on a 5-2 vote on May 27, 2025. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 27, 2025 · May 27, 2025
On May 27, 2025 the council voted 4-3 to direct staff to produce a budget at an equalized real estate tax rate. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 27, 2025 · May 27, 2025
On June 9, 2026 the council voted 5-2 to adopt higher water and stormwater rates, with a combined impact of about $1.06 per month for a typical residential customer. Lynchburg City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026

Public safety and surveillance

Where it standsThe council voted in September 2026 to end the city's Flock Safety contract, and it extended the youth curfew in February 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to replace the Flock tools and whether to keep, change or end the youth curfew.

The council approved the Flock Group license agreement for cameras in city rights-of-way on a 4-3 vote on Nov. 28, 2023. Lynchburg City Council minutes, November 28, 2023 · Nov 28, 2023
Council voted 6-0 on Sept. 3, 2026 to pass a resolution ending the city's contract with Flock Safety. WSLS 10 · Sep 3, 2026
The city has 15 fixed cameras and 54 gunshot detection devices, and removing them before April 6, 2027 would cost $500 per device. WSET · Sep 9, 2026
The youth curfew ordinance took effect on May 26, 2023, and the council extended its repeal date 4-2 on Feb. 24, 2026. Lynchburg City Council minutes, February 24, 2026 · Feb 24, 2026

Schools and school funding

Where it standsCity schools ranked in the bottom tenth of Virginia divisions on preliminary 2024-25 test scores, and the city is funding school facilities.

What's on the tableHow much city money goes to school buildings and operations in the next budgets.

Lynchburg City Schools ranked 122 out of 131 school divisions on its preliminary raw 2024-25 Standards of Learning scores. Cardinal News · Feb 3, 2026
The superintendent thanked the City Council in September 2025 for agreeing to provide $10 million, $30 million and $20 million over the next three fiscal years for facilities needs. Lynchburg City Council and School Board joint meeting minutes, September 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
The council voted 5-2 on May 26, 2026 to appropriate the FY 2027 Schools Operating Budget. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
In May 2026 Councilmember Faraldi called the $60 million in school infrastructure funding in the capital program unprecedented; the program passed 5-2. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026

Housing and neighborhoods

Where it standsThe city funds demolitions and renovations of blighted properties while council members debate taxes on property owners.

What's on the tableHow the city uses rehabilitation, zoning and incentives to add housing.

Since January 2024 the city reported nine city-funded and fourteen privately funded demolitions of blighted properties, with eight renovations done and thirteen in progress. Lynchburg City Council minutes, January 28, 2025 · Jan 28, 2025
In May 2025 Councilmember Reed said only 49% of city residents were property owners. Lynchburg City Council minutes, May 27, 2025 · May 27, 2025

Council conduct and city management

Where it standsMeetings have been heated, and the nine candidates are running partly on how the council should behave.

What's on the tableHow the council runs its meetings and evaluates the staff it appoints.

Cardinal News reports years of heated council meetings stemming from a divide within the body's 6-1 Republican majority. Cardinal News · Sep 18, 2026
Cardinal News reports council votes have cast Taylor, Reed and Faraldi in a group separate from Misjuns, Diemer and Timmer. Cardinal News · Feb 3, 2026
On Aug. 25, 2026 a motion to table indefinitely an item on performance evaluations for three city staff positions failed 2-5. WDBJ7 · Aug 25, 2026

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 Lynchburg raise its lodging tax?
2. Which way should Lynchburg's tax rates move?
3. What should Lynchburg do with its city-wide youth curfew?
4. Should Lynchburg use Flock license plate and gunshot-detection cameras?
5. Should the city push to expand pre-K?
6. How should Lynchburg add affordable housing?

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 Lynchburg · Sep 14, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Last day of early in-person votingCity of Lynchburg · Sep 14, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Election DayVirginia Department of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Curt Diemer, Chris Faraldi, Jacqueline Timmer, Sterling A. Wilder3 on this ballot

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

Lynchburg has a seven-member City Council elected to four-year terms: four members elected by ward and three elected at-large. City of Lynchburg
The council chooses its mayor and vice mayor by simple majority vote, and each serves two years in that role. City of Lynchburg
On Jan. 3, 2025 the council elected Councilmember Taylor mayor, 4 votes to 3, for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2026. Lynchburg City Council minutes, January 3, 2025 · Jan 3, 2025
The three at-large seats held by Taylor, Reed and Misjuns are on the ballot, and the four ward seats come due in 2028. Cardinal News · Feb 3, 2026
The Virginia Department of Elections lists nine qualified candidates for three at-large Lynchburg City Council seats with four-year terms: three Democrats and six Independents. Virginia Department of Elections

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