Roanoke City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Joseph L. Cobb
Mayor; term ends Dec. 31, 2028City of Roanoke
Joseph L. Cobb (Mayor) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Roanoke City Council after the election.
Mayor of Roanoke since January 2025 and a chaplain at Hermitage Roanoke. Served on City Council starting in July 2018, including two terms as vice mayor.
Where Joseph L. Cobb stands: positions on the record
Budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on the ordinance adopting the city's 2026-27 annual fund budgets (adopted 5-2, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · May 18, 2026
Flock and surveillance2 sourced positions
Voted yes on an encroachment permit to install gunshot detection devices in city rights-of-way (adopted 5-2, April 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · May 4, 2026
Voted yes to repeal the encroachment permit for gunshot detection devices (adopted 7-0, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · Aug 17, 2026
Housing and zoning2 sourced positions
Voted no on a resolution sending zoning amendments that incorporate the Citizens' Proposal to the Planning Commission (adopted 4-3, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · Aug 17, 2026
Said sending the residential zoning changes back for a fourth time felt like rolling much of them back.
“It feels very much to me that we’re just rolling a lot of that back by sending this back for a fourth time.”
Own statementWSLS 10 · Jul 7, 2026
Casino1 sourced position
as reported by WDBJ7; not a direct quote
Said possible casino revenue is needed to reinvest in schools, infrastructure and public safety and could create 900 jobs.
Own statementWDBJ7 · Dec 9, 2025
Schools1 sourced position
Voted yes on a resolution supporting legislation for a referendum on raising the sales tax 1% for school construction (adopted 4-1, December 2025).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · Jan 20, 2026
Data centers1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting the zoning code sections on data centers (adopted 7-0, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · Aug 17, 2026
Evans Spring1 sourced position
Voted yes on amending the Evans Spring Plan under Option 3, with the interstate connector removed (adopted 7-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Roanoke City Council · Jul 6, 2026
What Joseph L. Cobb said vs. how Joseph L. Cobb voted
Housing and zoning
In their words
Said sending the residential zoning changes back for a fourth time felt like rolling much of them back.
Jul 7, 2026 ·WSLS 10 · Jul 7, 2026
On the record
Voted no on a resolution sending zoning amendments that incorporate the Citizens' Proposal to the Planning Commission (adopted 4-3, July 2026).
Aug 17, 2026 ·City of Roanoke City Council · Aug 17, 2026
On the ballot this time
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