City & town

Mayor of Newport News

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

What this office does: The mayor presides over the city council and represents City of Newport News.

Candidates Compare by issue

Sharon P. Scott

No party listed

Real estate agent, Black Lion Realty; former city council member

The gist

Proposes public hearings on all major spending decisions.
Proposes financial impact statements for costly projects.
Proposes stronger procurement and contract oversight.
Proposes transparent analysis before any data center decision.

More about Sharon

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Proposes public hearings on all major spending decisions.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“These issues can be addressed by holding public hearings for all major spending decisions”
Proposes financial impact statements for costly projects.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“A financial impact statement should be completed on projects that cost taxpayer millions of dollars.”
Proposes stronger procurement and contract oversight.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Procurement and contract oversight should be strengthened to establish clear requirements for public disclosure, performance standards and deliverables.”
Proposes transparent analysis before any data center decision.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Before saying yes or no to data centers, I believe a transparent analysis should be required”

Phillip A. Hamilton

No party listed

Retired; former member of the Virginia House of Delegates

The gist

Proposes cutting real estate, personal property and meals taxes.
Proposes seeking authority to freeze real estate assessments.
Proposes hearings in every district before data center approval.
Proposes funding core services before tourism projects.

More about Phillip

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Proposes cutting real estate, personal property and meals taxes.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I would focus on reducing the real estate, personal property and the meals and prepared food tax rates.”
Proposes seeking authority to freeze real estate assessments.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I would seek General Assembly approval to grant Newport News the local option to freeze real estate tax assessments”
Proposes hearings in every district before data center approval.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“a well-advertised and televised public hearing should be conducted by City Council in each Newport News election district”
Proposes funding core services before tourism projects.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“The first priority, however, is for the city to appropriately fund its core service responsibilities”

Phillip D. Jones

No party listedIncumbent

Mayor of Newport News; associate vice president, Hampton University

The gist

Supports joint tourism marketing with Hampton.
Supports one-year data center ban pending zoning policy.
Supports expanding affordable housing and senior tax relief.
Led public safety investments as his top priority.In office
Secured record $129 million for city schools.In office

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

More about Phillip

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Supports joint tourism marketing with Hampton.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Newport News is working with Hampton to create a "twin-city" tourism expansion plan”
Supports one-year data center ban pending zoning policy.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I support a one-year ban until we develop a zoning policy in conjunction with the city of Hampton.”
Supports expanding affordable housing and senior tax relief.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“We are expanding affordable housing, workforce opportunities and economic development, while continuing to support seniors through tax relief”
Led public safety investments as his top priority.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Public safety has been my top priority since taking office. Through strategic investments, we have reduced homicides by 62%”
Secured record $129 million for city schools.
Meet the candidates in the Newport News mayor's race
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“City Council has also approved a record $129 million for Newport News Public Schools”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.