Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Martinsville City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

5 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 2

Michael E. GreeneConstruction professional with 30 years in the field and 17 years as a certified general real estate appraiser. Has served on the Martinsville Architectural Review Board and Board of Zoning Appeals.3sourced
Chad L. HallCEO of BTW21 Television and Senior Pastor of New Day Church in Martinsville. He has served as CEO of BTW21 Television for more than 25 years.5sourced
Verna L. "Tina" JenkinsIndependent candidate for Martinsville City Council on the Virginia Department of Elections list.1sourced
LC JonesIncumbentMayor of Martinsville and an at-large member of its City Council.7sourced
Charles J. Niederstadt Jr.Former Marine (1987-1993) with twenty-plus years of department and store level management. President of an HOA representing more than 1,100 homes.3sourced

Two of the five at-large council seats are on this ballot; five candidates are running.

2 notes on these statements

Aaron Rawls holds one of the two council seats on this year's ballot and is not running for reelection; LC Jones holds the other. WDBJ7 · Apr 23, 2026

The city's candidate list, as of June 16, 2026, names five candidates for two seats: Chad L. Hall, Charles J. Niederstadt Jr., Michael E. Greene, Verna L. "Tina" Jenkins and L C Jones (incumbent). City of Martinsville

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Rayshaun GravelyCouncilmember6sourced Kathy C. LawsonVice Mayor and Councilmember4sourced Julian MeiCouncilmember4sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget, taxes and streets, Housing and blight, Growth, comprehensive plan and broadband 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

Budget, taxes and streets

Where it standsThe council approved the FY 2026-27 budget ordinance on first reading by a 3-2 vote in June 2026 and on second reading on June 23, and public works staff are working on a new pay scale.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts future budgets and decides how fast streets are repaved.

The council approved the FY 2026-27 budget ordinance on first reading by a 3-2 vote on June 9, 2026. Martinsville City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
The council approved the FY 2026-27 budget ordinance on second reading on June 23, 2026. Martinsville City Council minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
The Public Works director said a proposed pay scale would raise the department's budget by around $57,000. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Public Works reported paving of over 5 miles of roadway with Street Funds, with completion by Fall 2026. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026

Housing and blight

Where it standsThe council has extended its support for the Aaron Street Lofts affordable housing project to November 30, 2026 and accepted a grant for remediation at 51 Lester.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to keep backing affordable housing projects and how to fund cleanup of blighted properties.

On August 25, 2026 the council, sitting as the Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, approved on first reading an extension of the Aaron Street Lofts commitment letter to November 30, 2026. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
The council approved Ordinance 2026-17, a grant for the Economic Development Authority to help with remediation of 51 Lester, on second reading 5-0 on August 25, 2026. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
The council approved Ordinance 2026-9 on second reading 5-0 on June 9, 2026, rezoning approximately 13.05 acres along Chatham Heights Road and Bob Gregory Street to R-T, Residential Transitional. Martinsville City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026

Growth, comprehensive plan and broadband

Where it standsThe Planning Commission has sent the Comprehensive Plan to the council for approval, and the council has advanced a grant appropriation for MiNet fiber expansion.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on the Comprehensive Plan and on how the city partners with others on growth.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously at its August 19, 2026 meeting to advance the Comprehensive Plan to the next stage, approval by City Council. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
The council approved on first reading 5-0 on August 25, 2026 Ordinance 2026-18, an ARC grant appropriation for MiNet fiber expansion, with a city match of $300,000 in-kind. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026

City leadership and staffing

Where it standsThe council ended the previous city manager's contract in August 2025 and appointed a new city attorney in August 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the city manager and city attorney and sets their pay and contracts.

The council voted 4-1 on August 7, 2025 to terminate City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides's contract for cause. Henry County Enterprise · Aug 15, 2025
On August 11, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to appoint James Benkahla as City Attorney. Martinsville City Council minutes, August 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
The council voted 3-2 on July 22, 2025 to ratify a city manager salary of $215,000 effective April 1, 2025. Martinsville City Council minutes, July 22, 2025 · Jul 22, 2025

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. What should the council do about property tax and utility rates?
2. How fast should the city repave its streets?
3. Should the city actively support affordable housing projects like Aaron Street Lofts?
4. How should the city pay for cleaning up blighted property?
5. Should the city expand partnerships with Henry County?

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

3 stay (not up this year): Rayshaun Gravely, Kathy C. Lawson, Julian Mei2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Martinsville's City Council has five members elected at large to staggered four-year terms, with elections every two years. City of Martinsville
Martinsville uses the council-manager form of government, in which the council appoints a professional city manager. City of Martinsville
The council elects its own mayor and vice mayor; at its January 2025 organizational meeting it chose LC Jones as mayor on a 3-2 vote. Henry County Enterprise

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