Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Norton City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to vote Check your registration

Last day to register or to apply for a mailed ballot (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.

City Council

Vote for up to 3

Voters citywide choose up to three of the four candidates; the three with the most votes win four-year terms.

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.

U.S. Senate
- Mark R. Warner · Democratic
- Bert Mizusawa · Republican
Official candidate list, in its order
Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations

Official voter lookup State voter guide Vote411 (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

01Real estate tax rate4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council scheduled an Oct. 6, 2026, public hearing on cutting the real estate tax rate from $0.90 to $0.89 per $100 of assessed value.

What's on the tableThe next council sets the real estate tax rate in each year's budget.

City staff estimated a one-cent cut would reduce city revenue by about $32,000 a year. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
The cut would take effect January 1, 2027, so the city would see about half of the effect in the current budget year. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
Councilman Chris Jones questioned whether this was the right time, saying $32,000 could do a lot of things. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
The Oct. 6, 2026, agenda listed a public hearing on a real estate tax levy of $0.89 per $100, where the present rate is $0.90. City of Norton · Oct 6, 2026

02Tax relief for elderly and disabled residents3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council is weighing changes to the city's real estate tax exemption for elderly and disabled residents.

What's on the tableThe council decides the income limit and dollar amount of the exemption.

In September 2026 the council agreed to advertise a public hearing on amending City Code Sections 23-92 and 23-96 on these exemptions. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
The city manager said the council needed to set a wealth limit and a dollar amount per exemption. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
The Oct. 6, 2026, agenda listed a public hearing on the proposed amendment to Sections 23-92 and 23-96. City of Norton · Oct 6, 2026

03City budget and water rates4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe fiscal 2026-27 budget, adopted in June 2026, kept other rates the same and raised the base water rate by $0.50 per 1,000 gallons.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts each year's budget and sets water and sewer rates.

The budget included a General Operating Fund of $14,509,262 and an Enterprise Fund of $3,872,935. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026
The inside-city bill for 1,000 gallons of water rose from $8.65 to $9.15. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026
The city manager said the water increase was recommended to keep the Enterprise Fund self-sufficient. City of Norton · May 19, 2026
The proposed Social Services Operating Fund rose 39.46 percent, to $2,839,300. City of Norton · May 19, 2026

04Ridge Avenue wall and Park Avenue3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved borrowing up to $820,000 to repair the Ridge Avenue wall and is again seeking state funding for a Park Avenue road diet.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the wall repair and decides whether to move ahead with the road diet if funded.

The city manager said the wall debt was $750,000, with the $820,000 limit leaving room for closing and legal costs. City of Norton · Sep 15, 2026
The city manager said VDOT engineers restructured the Park Avenue road diet, reducing its costs. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026
In June 2026 the council voted to apply to VDOT's Smart Scale program for the downtown road diet. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026

05Regional industrial authority2 sourced facts

Where it standsNorton shares revenue from industrial projects through the Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority.

What's on the tableThe council appoints Norton's members to the authority's board and approves its agreements.

Under the revenue sharing agreement, each of five member localities gets one share, the authority one share, and the host locality an extra share. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026
In June 2026 the council approved revenue sharing agreements for two buildings at Project Intersection in Norton. City of Norton · Jun 16, 2026

2 notes on these statements

Chris Jones holds a council seat with a term that expires December 31, 2026. City of Norton

Councilman Chris Jones recused himself from the March 2026 vote on the probation office request because he owns the property at 629 Park Avenue. City of Norton · Mar 3, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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 Norton borrow money to repair the Ridge Avenue wall?
2. Should Norton pursue a road diet on Park Avenue downtown?

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 voted6 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

Early in-person voting beginsVirginia Department of ElectionsSep 18, 2026
Last day to register or to apply for a mailed ballotVirginia Department of ElectionsOct 23, 2026
Early in-person voting endsVirginia Department of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
Election DayVirginia Department of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Mark Caruso, Robert Fultz Jr.3 on this ballot

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

The City Council has five members elected at large, each with one vote. Virginia Code Commission
Three council members are elected in November 2026 for four-year terms beginning January 1. Virginia Code Commission
Council candidates are not identified on the ballot by political affiliation. Virginia Code Commission
The council elects a mayor and vice-mayor from its members; the mayor votes but has no veto. Virginia Code Commission

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