Norfolk City Council elects Martin A. Thomas Jr. as vice mayor

Councilmember Martin A. Thomas Jr. was elected vice mayor of the Norfolk City Council on a unanimous roll-call vote, the council announced during a short meeting called to satisfy a charter scheduling requirement. The council adopted a resolution seating Thomas to serve as vice mayor through Dec. 31, 2026.

The meeting satisfied Section 12 of the city charter, which requires the council to meet on the Tuesday in January following the regular municipal election so newly elected members may assume office. Council took a single item of business: the election of a vice mayor under Section 2(b) of the council rules of procedure.

A councilmember nominated Thomas for the office; Councilmember Thomas Smigiel seconded the nomination. The clerk called the roll and the members present — Mr. Clanton, Mrs. Doyle, Councilwoman Mamie B. Johnson, Mr. McGee, Mr. Smigiel, Councilmember Martin A. Thomas Jr., and Dr. Alexander — each voted “Aye.” Councilmember Page was noted as running late and was not recorded voting on the measure. The clerk then read a resolution electing Martin A. Thomas Jr. to serve as vice mayor until Dec. 31, 2026, which the council adopted.

The item was procedural: council members completed the formal vote and took no additional related policy actions or directives during this portion of the meeting. No amendments, conditions, or follow-up assignments were stated in the transcript.

The action places Thomas in the vice mayor role until the end date specified in the resolution; the resolution text and any associated administrative details beyond the term end were not specified in the meeting record.