All four incumbents who sought re-election to the City Council won four-year terms, according to unofficial election results.
The incumbents were James Buckner, Bryant Hood, Alonzo Jones, and Dr. Gary Miller. Jones is currently serving as mayor. Miller is the vice mayor.
Jones led the field, with an unofficial tally of 7,532 votes. He was followed by Hood with 6,515; Miller, 6,396; and Buckner, 5,933.
There were six candidates for the four seats, with Petrina Carter garnering 5,410 votes; and Maureen Belko, 3,612.
This election was the first for the City Council to be held in November. In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring localities to hold municipal elections in November. The City Council elections had traditionally been held on the first Tuesday in May in even-numbered years.
The City Council is the governing body of the City of Danville. It is comprised of nine people, elected at large for four-year staggered terms. The City Council elects the mayor and vice mayor from its membership. These officials serve two-year terms.
For yesterday’s winning candidates, their four-year term begins Jan. 1. The other current members of the City Council are the Rev. Larry Campbell Jr., Barry Mayo, Sherman Saunders, Lee Vogler and Madison Whittle, all of whom have two years remaining on their four-year term.
Jones has been a member of the City Council since 2010, when he was first elected to a four-year term. He won re-election bids in May 2014 and again in May 2018. He served as vice mayor from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. On July 1, 2018, he was elected by the Council to serve as Mayor and was re-elected as Mayor in 2020.
Miller has been a member of the City Council since March 2008, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy due to a resignation. He was elected to a four-year term May 2010. He won re-election bids in May 2014 and again in May 2018. He has served as vice mayor since July 1, 2020.
Buckner has been a member of the City Council since 2014, when he was first elected to a four-year term. He won re-election in May 2018.
Hood has been a member of the City Council since Dec. 1, 2020, after winning a special election in November 2020 election to fill a vacant seat due to a resignation.
Also on Tuesday, voters cast ballots for the Danville School Board. Five candidates vied for three seats with four-year terms. Ty’Quan Graves, Keisha Averett and Keith Silverman prevailed. Graves received 6,105 votes, Averett received 5,761 votes, and Silverman grabbed 5,260 votes, according to unofficial election results.
Candidates Michael Pritchett Jr. and Kushanna Galloway picked up 4,661 and 4,273 votes, respectively.
Also, Takessa C. S. "Keisha" Walker will serve out the remainder of Renee Hughes’ term. Unopposed in yesterday’s election, she received 7,233 votes.
The School Board is a seven-member group. Members are elected to staggered terms. The other members are Philip Campbell, Tyrell Payne, and Charles McWilliams III.
Results are incomplete because provisional ballots will not be counted until Monday. Also, mail-in absentee ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 8 may be accepted until noon on Monday.