TappahannockNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Tappahannock Mayor & Town Council Election 2026

3 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline 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.

All voters in town choose the mayor and can vote for up to three of the six Town Council candidates; the top three win.

Deadline to register or update registration · Oct 23

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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.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (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

01Taxes and the town budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe FY2027 budget, adopted 4-2 in May 2026, raised the real estate tax rate by 4 cents to $0.13 per $100.

What's on the tableThe new council will set tax rates and employee pay in each year's budget.

02Borrowing for equipment and projects3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted 4-2 to authorize a general obligation bond of up to $1.4 million for vehicles, equipment and capital projects.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide how much to borrow for future equipment and projects, and how to repay it.

03Church Lane road diet3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted 6-0 to deny a resolution supporting VDOT's road diet application for Route 17 (Church Lane).

What's on the tableThe new council will decide how to pursue traffic and safety changes downtown.

04Housing and zoning2 sourced facts

Where it standsA 2025 request to rezone about 13 acres at Warner Street and Pegram Lane for multi-family housing failed 2-3 at the council.

What's on the tableThe new council will rule on rezoning requests and changes to the zoning ordinance.

05Animal shelter property2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe town gave Essex County until September 14, 2027 to vacate the animal shelter on Airport Road.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide whether to convey or keep the shelter land, which the town had planned for economic development.

2 notes on these statements

Kenneth A. "Skip" Gillis and Carolyn S. Barrett did not attend the October 2026 candidates forum at the 1710 Tavern. The Rappahannock Times · Oct 14, 2026

J. Erin Kelley owns the Rappahannock Times, which published the forum report and candidate profiles cited here. The Rappahannock Times · Oct 14, 2026

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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. 1. Should the town keep the real estate tax rate at $0.13 per $100, the rate set in the FY2027 budget?

  2. 2. How should the town set cost-of-living raises for its employees?

  3. 3. Should the town borrow up to $1.4 million for vehicles, equipment and capital projects?

  4. 4. Should Church Lane be narrowed from four lanes to two with a center turn lane?

  5. 5. Should the town rezone commercial land like the Warner Street parcel for multi-family housing?

  6. 6. What should happen to the county animal shelter on town land on Airport Road?

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

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Kay Carlton, A. Fleet Dillard III, Anita J. Latane3 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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

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