City & town

Newport News City Council

South District, Seat B

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The city council sets City of Newport News's budget, tax rates and ordinances and appoints the city manager.

Candidates Compare by issue

Clifton J. Atkins

No party listed

Contractor

The gist

Opposes the school construction sales tax referendum.
Proposes eliminating real estate taxes for senior homeowners.
Supports a commercial project at Camp Morrison, not housing.
Proposes adult night school and vocational training.

More about Clifton

View sources (2)

Opposes the school construction sales tax referendum.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Atkins and Hamilton both said they don't support the referendum because of the increased cost on taxpayers.”
Proposes eliminating real estate taxes for senior homeowners.
Candidate Profile: Clifton J. Atkins (Newport News City Council - South District)
Candidate questionnaire · WAVY-TV 10 (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Lower taxes, Eliminating Real Estate taxes for seniors and the elderly owning their homes.”
Supports a commercial project at Camp Morrison, not housing.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Atkins said he was opposed because he would prefer a commercial project at the site rather than housing.”
Proposes adult night school and vocational training.
Candidate Profile: Clifton J. Atkins (Newport News City Council - South District)
Candidate questionnaire · WAVY-TV 10 (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I would like to see a city wide night school adult training classes for all adults who wish to go back to school.”

Devon P. Hamilton

No party listed

Parks facility maintenance worker, City of Newport News

The gist

Opposes the school construction sales tax referendum.
Opposes data centers in the city.
Supports reducing corporate influence in elections.
Opposes the Camp Morrison community development authority.

More about Devon

View sources (2)

Opposes the school construction sales tax referendum.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“The schools have got to come first, not the fun stuff, so to me it's about misplaced priorities”
Opposes data centers in the city.
Candidate Profile: Devon P. Hamilton (Newport News City Council - South District)
Candidate questionnaire · WAVY-TV 10 (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Absolutely No Data Center”
Supports reducing corporate influence in elections.
Candidate Profile: Devon P. Hamilton (Newport News City Council - South District)
Candidate questionnaire · WAVY-TV 10 (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I believe we should work to reduce the influence that major corporations, such as Dominion Energy, have in our elections.”
Opposes the Camp Morrison community development authority.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“For Diggs, Gale, Hamilton and Long, the answer was no, due to community feedback largely against it.”

John R. Eley III

No party listedIncumbent

Newport News City Council member (South District); director, What's Next Foundation

The gist

Supports the school construction sales tax referendum.
Supports tighter code enforcement against blighted buildings.
Led workforce training referrals through What's Next.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about John

View sources (2)

Supports the school construction sales tax referendum.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“But our schools, our children, are our future, and it's time for us as Newport News citizens to do what's right for our children.”
Supports tighter code enforcement against blighted buildings.
Newport News City Council candidates talk Camp Morrison, sales tax and blight
Debate / forum transcript · Daily Press (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Hamilton, Eley and Gale said it comes down to tighter code enforcement”
Led workforce training referrals through What's Next.
City Council members | City of Newport News
Government record · City of Newport News · nngov.civicweb.net
“an initiative that connects residents with workforce training to advance career preparation and financial stability”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.