Norfolk, VAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Norfolk City Council Ward 5 · Nov 3, 2026

Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr.

Candidate for City Council Ward 5 (incumbent)

8 candidates · 5 seats13 sourced positions

Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr., the incumbent, is running for Norfolk City Council Ward 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, unopposed.

Report an error

Last day of early in-person voting · Sat, Oct 31, 2026

Principal of Granby High School who has represented Ward 5 on the City Council since 2010. Was the 2008 Virginia Teacher of the Year and served as the 100th president of the Virginia Municipal League.

Campaign website
www.tommyforward5.com

Get your Norfolk ballot cheat-sheet

Candidates, positions and dates in one email, sent now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

Scott R. Guirlinger is the only candidate in Ward 1, after Vice Mayor Martin Thomas chose not to run again; Courtney R. Doyle in Ward 2 and Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. in Ward 5 face no challengers. WHRO · Sep 18, 2026

Where Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. stands: positions on the record

Budget3 sourced positions

  • Criticized the FY 2027 budget process and asked the city manager's staff to hold more public forums in communities while drafting budgets.

    “This has probably been the least transparent budget process I've ever seen in my 16 years,”

    Own statementWHRO · May 13, 2026

  • Voted yes on the FY 2027 operating budget, which kept the real estate tax rate at $1.23 per $100, after the council reconsidered it (adopted 8-0, May 19, 2026).

    Council voteCity of Norfolk · May 19, 2026

  • Voted yes on the FY 2027 operating budget on its first vote (adopted 7-1, May 12, 2026).

    Council voteCity of Norfolk · May 12, 2026

Flock cameras1 sourced position

  • Says Flock cameras can help police solve crimes when used properly; supports following state law and wants clear city policies, regular reviews and oversight.

    Own statementThe Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026

Housing1 sourced position
Capital spending2 sourced positions
MacArthur Center2 sourced positions
Land use2 sourced positions

  • Voted yes on Colonna's Shipyard's application to rezone property at 344 West Indian River Road and on Emmett Place from residential districts to conditional Industrial – Deep Water (adopted 6-2, Oct. 2025).

    Council voteCity of Norfolk · Oct 28, 2025

  • Voted no on continuing generally the ordinance letting Colonna's Shipyard encroach into the right-of-way at 150 South Main Street with an access-controlled gate and fence (passed 5-2, Sept. 2026).

    Council voteCity of Norfolk · Sep 15, 2026

Taxes1 sourced position

  • Voted yes on changing the lodging tax on short-term rentals to a per-night flat tax based on the number of bedrooms (adopted 7-1, Oct. 2025).

    Council voteCity of Norfolk · Oct 7, 2025

Past candidacies1 sourced position

What Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. said vs. how Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. voted

Budget

In their words

  • Criticized the FY 2027 budget process and asked the city manager's staff to hold more public forums in communities while drafting budgets.

    May 13, 2026 ·WHRO · May 13, 2026

On the record

Also running for City Council Ward 5

No one else is running for this seat.

All 8 Norfolk candidates →

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

Take your ballot with you

Who is on your ballot, where each candidate stands, and the dates that matter, in one email you can carry to the polls. Sent right now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.