MarionNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Marion Town Council Election 2026

4 of 8 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 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
Registration deadline (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.

Voters can choose up to four of the seven Town Council candidates, and the top four vote-getters win; the mayor and three other council members continue in office.

Registration deadline · 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

01Budget, water and sewer rates4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe FY2026-27 budget of $19,977,092 raised water and sewer rates 5%, and the council is borrowing for further sewer work.

What's on the tableThe next council will write the FY2027-28 budget and set utility rates.

02Loitering ordinance3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a loitering ordinance 5-2 in September 2026; approval of that meeting's minutes was deferred after the mayor raised a point of order about the vote.

What's on the tableThe next council can keep, change or repeal the ordinance.

03Callan Drive Recreation Park2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council accepted a master plan for the Callan Drive Recreation Park in August 2026 and chose Plan One A.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how and when to build and pay for the park.

04Town land and Main Street properties4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe town transferred 213.66 acres to its Economic Development Authority in August 2026 and approved buying three Main Street corridor properties in September.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide what happens with these properties and future land deals.

05Open meetings and town administration3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe mayor has called for council deliberation in open session, and the council reorganized the town manager's office in 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will set how it deliberates and oversees town staff.

2 notes on these statements

Seven candidates are running for four Town Council seats; Suzanne B. Jennings, Tricia L. Spencer, Larry W. Carter and Debra A. Hayes are incumbents. Cardinal News

Debra A. Hayes did not attend the October 2026 Smyth County candidates forum. Three County News · Oct 11, 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. The FY2026-27 budget raised water and sewer rates 5% and paid off four loans. Would you have voted for it?

  2. 2. Should Marion keep the loitering ordinance the council adopted in September 2026?

  3. 3. Should the town keep developing the Callan Drive Recreation Park on the former quarry property?

  4. 4. Should the town use special project funds to buy properties along the Main Street corridor?

  5. 5. Should council members avoid discussing pending decisions by email or text before public meetings?

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

4 stay (not up this year): Hunter Atwell, Avery Cornett, Jim Gates, Todd May4 on this ballot

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

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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