Portsmouth City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.
Candidate for City Council (incumbent)
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr., the incumbent, is running for Portsmouth City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 5 candidates are running for 3 seats.
Last day of early in-person voting · Sat, Oct 31, 2026
Local government affairs program manager at Virginia Natural Gas and a former Portsmouth School Board member. Elected to City Council in 2022; his term began January 1, 2023.
- Campaign website
- www.vernontillage.com
Where Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. stands: positions on the record
Budget2 sourced positions
Voted no on the $598 million FY 2027 operating budget ordinance (adopted 4-3, May 12, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · May 12, 2026
as reported by The Virginian-Pilot; not a direct quote
Opposed adopting the operating budget before the state budget was settled, because state school funding was still unknown.
Own statementThe Virginian-Pilot · May 15, 2026
Utility rates2 sourced positions
Voted no on increasing water and sewer rates (adopted 5-2, May 12, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · May 12, 2026
Calls for freezing automatic water and sewage rate hikes and seeking state and federal grants for infrastructure mandates instead.
“we must freeze automatic water and sewage rate hikes and aggressively secure state and federal grants to cover infrastructure mandates rather than passing these heavy utility costs directly onto residential bills”
Own statementThe Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026
New City Hall1 sourced position
Voted yes on the $2.9 million interim agreement to design a new City Hall and parking garage (adopted 6-1, May 12, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · May 12, 2026
School sales tax2 sourced positions
as reported by The Virginian-Pilot; not a direct quote
Signaled support for the proposed 1% sales tax for school infrastructure when candidates were asked for a yes or no answer at the Sept. 30 forum.
Forum answerThe Virginian-Pilot · Oct 1, 2026
Voted yes on the resolution asking the court to put a 1% school sales tax referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (adopted 5-1, July 28, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · Jul 28, 2026
Taxes1 sourced position
Supports continuing to use casino gaming revenue for real estate tax relief, balanced with school and public safety spending.
“Moving forward, I support continuing to leverage these gaming revenues to provide real estate tax relief.”
Own statementWAVY
Collective bargaining1 sourced position
as reported by The Virginian-Pilot; not a direct quote
Described in November 2023 as a vocal supporter of collective bargaining for city employees.
Own statementThe Virginian-Pilot · Nov 15, 2023
Housing3 sourced positions
Voted no on a use permit for six townhouses at 2400 Airline Boulevard (denied 3-4, Aug. 25, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · Aug 25, 2026
Voted no on a use permit for seven townhomes at 1211 Rodman Avenue and 3614 Race Street (approved 4-3, Aug. 25, 2026).
Council voteCity of Portsmouth · Aug 25, 2026
Supports building diverse housing, stronger renter protections and new opportunities for first-time buyers.
“building diverse housing options, strengthening protections for renters, and creating new opportunities for first-time buyers”
Own statementVernon Lamont Tillage campaign
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for Portsmouth City Council in 2022 (won).
Own statementVirginia Department of Elections
What Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. said vs. how Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. voted
FY 2027 budget
In their words
Opposed adopting the operating budget before the state budget was settled, because state school funding was still unknown.
May 15, 2026 ·as reported by The Virginian-Pilot; not a direct quote ·The Virginian-Pilot · May 15, 2026
On the record
Voted no on the $598 million FY 2027 operating budget ordinance (adopted 4-3, May 12, 2026).
May 12, 2026 ·City of Portsmouth · May 12, 2026
Water and sewer rates
In their words
Calls for freezing automatic water and sewage rate hikes and seeking state and federal grants for infrastructure mandates instead.
Sep 22, 2026 ·The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026
On the record
Voted no on increasing water and sewer rates (adopted 5-2, May 12, 2026).
May 12, 2026 ·City of Portsmouth · May 12, 2026
Housing
In their words
Supports building diverse housing, stronger renter protections and new opportunities for first-time buyers.
On the record
Voted no on a use permit for six townhouses at 2400 Airline Boulevard (denied 3-4, Aug. 25, 2026).
Aug 25, 2026 ·City of Portsmouth · Aug 25, 2026
Voted no on a use permit for seven townhomes at 1211 Rodman Avenue and 3614 Race Street (approved 4-3, Aug. 25, 2026).
Aug 25, 2026 ·City of Portsmouth · Aug 25, 2026
Also running for City Council
- Mark A. Hugel (incumbent)
- Lisa L. Lucas-Burke
- William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. (incumbent)
- Mark M. Whitaker
Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
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.