Norfolk City Council
To read more about local regulations around coal dust, see Local Regulations.
To read about Newport News City Council, see Newport News City Council
The Norfolk City Council is the elected legislative body that governs Norfolk, Virginia.
Operating under a council-manager form of government, the Council includes a mayor and seven other members who are responsible for setting municipal policy, passing local laws, approving budgets, and overseeing land use and development. The Council wields considerable influence over issues related to economic development, environmental regulation, and public health, making it a key player in addressing community concerns about coal dust pollution.
Norfolk is organized into a ward system, with the city divided into five small wards, two superwards (each encompassing about half the city). Residents in each ward therefore do not vote for the entire city council, but for mayor, their ward representative, and their superward representative. This was enacted to promote a more diverse council, following a 50 year stretch form 1918-1968 when the at-large system produced an all-white council, and a seven year court case that ended with the US Supreme Court forcing Norfolk to use the ward system.[1]
The City of Norfolk has jurisdiction over one of the three coal terminals in the Port of Virginia, Pier 6. The Norfolk Southern terminal is located in Ward 2.
Council Members (in 2025)
- Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D. (Term: Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028)[2]
- Vice Mayor Martin A. Thomas Jr (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 1
- Courtney R. Doyle (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 2
- Mamie B. Johnson (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 3
- John E. "JP" Paige (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 4
- Thomas R. Smigiel Jr (Jan 1 2023 - Dec 31, 2026); Ward 5
- Carlos J. Clanton (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); Superward 6
- Jeremy D. McGee (Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2028); Superward 7
Relevant Meetings
Documents
Ward & Superwards. City of Norfolk. 2014.