Christopher Woodard to keep seat on Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Councilman Christopher Woodard won his first race as a council member after defeating challenger Ed Brown in a special election.

With nearly all precincts reporting unofficial results, Woodard has about 52% of votes. Brown has 46.5%, and the margin is about 1,500.

Woodard was appointed to the council at the start of 2021. The seat became available after Shannon Glover, a City Councilman at the time, was elected Mayor. The seat is up for election again in 2022.

Woodard has touted his votes to rescind a school funding formula, fund the school division’s full budget request and increase public comment speaking time. He said he wants to address public safety by giving police bonuses, buying equipment and increasing recreation opportunities.

Sheriff Michael Moore handily won a second term in Portsmouth, defeating Stanley L. “Stan” Davis nearly three to one.

With nearly all precincts reporting, Moore, a Democrat, had about 75.4% of the vote, compared to 23.7% for Evans, an Independent.

Melvin Cotton, Jr., defeated Willie Bamberg II in a special election for a seat on the Portsmouth School Board Tuesday night, receiving 64% of votes. Cotton is a pastor at New Genesis Baptist Church and a small business owner.

This will be Cotton’s first time holding office. He was endorsed by Portsmouth’s Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Steering Committee, a prominent political action group in the city.

Cotton has emphasized student safety, equitable salaries for all staff and obtaining full accreditation for all schools in the division. He also hopes to start a mentorship program to support recent graduates of Portsmouth schools.

Josh Reyes, 757-247-4692, joreyes@dailypress.com