The Hampton City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to establish a new election polling place at the Hampton University campus. The decision was made during a meeting that saw a large turnout at City Hall.
Supporters of the ordinance included Delegate Jeion Ward, Delegate-elect Virgil Thornton, Hampton School Board chair Richard Mason, and Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams.
The new polling location will be situated at the Convocation Center on campus. According to city officials, this move is intended to improve voter access in East Hampton. The current East Hampton precinct serves over 4,200 residents; with the change, more than 2,000 voters will now be able to use the university’s polling site. The adjustment does not alter any Congressional or General Assembly district boundaries.
During public comment, City Manager Mary Bunting addressed traffic concerns related to Settlers Landing Road near the university entrance. She announced that some lane delineators would be removed from the right turn-lane on Thursday to help motorists make right turns during restricted hours.
Other council actions included deferring a rezoning application for a single-family home on Pembroke Avenue and approving a use permit for a restaurant and lounge in Coliseum Central. The council also revoked a downtown restaurant’s use permit due to non-compliance with its terms.
At the beginning of the legislative session, Mayor Jimmy Gray recognized Simply Panache owners as their Phoebus eatery prepares to close by year-end. “The Simply Panache brand is instantly recognizable around Phoebus as a symbol of high quality, positive energy and community engagement,” Mayor Gray said. “And that’s something that’s not going to change at the end of the year.”
Mayor Gray also acknowledged students from each of Hampton’s four public high schools whose artwork will appear on this year’s City Council holiday cards: Bethel senior Naima Gregory, Kecoughtan sophomore Aliyah Boyce, Phoebus freshman Jaelyn Harris and Hampton junior Anastasia Ivanenciuc.
Earlier in the day, council members received an update on the comprehensive financial report for Fiscal Year 2025 and held a closed session regarding upcoming state legislative matters in Richmond.
These were the final meetings scheduled for 2025; council sessions are set to resume January 14.
