Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Petersburg City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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 Ward 1 · Unopposed

Marlow A. JonesIncumbentPetersburg Ward 1 councilman and restaurant owner. He worked 20 years for the City, starting as a firefighter.6sourced

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

Michael L. Moore-StorrsSocial worker and psychotherapist running for the Ward 3 seat on Petersburg City Council.3sourced
Samuel D. ParhamIncumbentDirector of business operations at Colonial Cleaning Service.6sourced

City Council Ward 5 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 7 · 1 seat

Each of the four ward seats on the ballot is a separate contest; voters choose one candidate in their own ward.

1 note on these statements

Marlow A. Jones is the only candidate listed for the Ward 1 seat. Virginia Department of Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Charlie CuthbertCouncilmember, Ward 42sourced Darrin HillVice Mayor and Councilmember, Ward 22sourced Annette Smith-LeeCouncilmember, Ward 62sourced

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Budget and casino revenue, Zoning and development Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsCouncil members said in July 2026 that several data centers are moving forward in Petersburg and that they were allowed without council review.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to change zoning rules for future data centers.

Councilmember Cuthbert said he had read an article that three data centers were moving forward in Petersburg and asked City Administration to keep Council and the public informed. Petersburg City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
Councilmember Jones said data centers were by-right developments that did not require review by Council. Petersburg City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
City Clerk Tangi Hill announced that Councilmember Westbrook would hold a Ward 7 meeting on September 8, 2026, about data centers. Petersburg City Council minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026

Budget and casino revenue

Where it standsCouncil adopted the FY27 operating budget on May 26, 2026, and added casino gaming tax revenue to the FY26 budget in June.

What's on the tableThe next council sets budgets and decides how casino tax revenue and collections are used.

Council adopted the FY27 operating budget ordinance by a 4-0 vote on May 26, 2026, with three members absent. Petersburg City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 (special meeting) · May 26, 2026
A June 2026 budget amendment of $1,182,840 to the FY26 General Fund came from the first, unbudgeted installment of casino gaming tax revenue. Petersburg City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
In September 2026 the Budget Manager said about $26 million had been outstanding in delinquent receivables at the last report and more than $7 million had been collected since. Petersburg City Council minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026

Zoning and development

Where it standsCouncil approved a city-initiated rezoning in June 2026 and changed residential parking design standards in July 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on rezonings and the planned rewrite of the zoning ordinance.

Council voted 6-0 on June 16, 2026 to rezone 300 Poplar Drive and 27 Seyler Drive to MXD-3 Mixed-Use. Petersburg City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Council voted 6-1 on July 21, 2026 for an ordinance clarifying residential off-street parking design standards. Petersburg City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
In July 2026 the Planning Director said staff were working on a full re-write of the Zoning Ordinance. Petersburg City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 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. What should the city do with the property tax rate?
2. How much priority should streets and water and sewer lines get in the budget?
3. Should the city start rezonings of underused properties for mixed use?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Early voting beginsPetersburg Progress-Index · Sep 17, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Election DayVirginia Department of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Charlie Cuthbert, Darrin Hill, Annette Smith-Lee4 on this ballot

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

Petersburg has a council-manager form of government. League of Women Voters VOTE411
One council member is elected from each of the city's seven wards to a four-year term. League of Women Voters VOTE411
The council elects a mayor and vice mayor from among its members and hires a city manager. League of Women Voters VOTE411

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