City Council Members :: VBgov.com - City of Virginia Beach

City Council Members

The City of Virginia Beach operates under the council-manager form of government.

The 11-member City Council is the city's legislative body. The city manager is appointed by the council and acts as chief executive officer. Through his staff, the city manager implements policies established by council.

Members of the City Council serve four-year terms and are elected on a staggered basis. In the past, Virginia Beach residents could vote for all 11 council members including the mayor. In the November 2022 election, residents were only able to vote for candidates who live in their newly defined district (as determined by the U.S. District Court). All residents will still be able to vote for the mayor. The mayor’s election will take place in 2024.

Robert M. "Bobby" Dyer

Mayor

Mayor Bobby Dyer was sworn in on November 20, 2018, and is the first Veteran to be directly elected as mayor in Virginia Beach history. Before being sworn in as Mayor, Dyer represented the Centerville District for 14 years. His prior positions include physical therapist, health care executive, business consultant and assistant professor in the School of Government at Regent University. Dyer served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1972. In 1976, he earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Saint Louis University and in 1982, a master's in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He earned his Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Regent University in 2001.

Bobby currently serves as a City Council liaison to the Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Human Rights Commission, Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, Hampton Roads Workforce Council and the

Process Improvement Steering Committee, which he initiated, and is an appointed member of the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee.

Bobby and his wife, Trish, live in the Lake Christopher section of the city and have two children and four grandchildren.

Michael Berlucchi

District #3

Councilmember Michael Berlucchi was elected on November 5, 2019, and re-elected on November 3, 2020, to serve as the Rose Hall District (District 3) representative. He was born and raised in Virginia Beach and is a graduate of First Colonial High School and George Mason University, the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, and the CIVIC Leadership Institute at Old Dominion University.

Michael is the community relations manager for the Chrysler Museum of Art, where he creates and implements educational and community partnerships designed to expand and diversify museum audiences, particularly among underserved constituencies. He been recognized as one of Inside Business' Top Forty under 40 and as an OUTstanding Virginian by Equality Virginia, and has authored articles and given presentations on a range of topics related to his work experience and community/civic engagement.

Michael is an active community volunteer and supports numerous nonprofit organizations, including Teens with a Purpose, CIVIC Leadership Institute, Green Run Collegiate Foundation, Connected Business Networking, United Negro College Fund, Virginia Beach for Fairness, Hampton Roads LGBT Public Safety Consortium, Virginia African American Cultural Center, the Hope House Foundation, Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, among many others. He also served as a member of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation, and consecutive terms as president of Hampton Roads Pride.

Michael serves as a City Council Liaison to the 5/31 Memorial Committee, Arts and Humanities Commission, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Development Authority, Human Rights Commission, Social Services Advisory Board and Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation.

Barbara Henley

District #2

Councilmember Barbara Henley is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in urban studies. She taught in the city's public schools system and is a partner in Henley Farms, LP. She is president of the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society and the author of Glimpses of Down-County History: Southern Princess Anne County.

Barbara is serving her 10th term on the City Council, now representing District 2. She represented the Pungo Borough from 1978 to 1990, during which time she served two years as vice mayor. She served on City Council again from 1994 to 2002 and returned to represent the Princess Anne District in 2006.

Barbara serves as a City Council liaison to the Agricultural Advisory Commission, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Historical Review Board, Open Space Advisory Committee, Stormwater Appeals Board and is an appointed member of the Green Ribbon Committee, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Transition Area ITA.

N.D. "Rocky" Holcomb

District #1

Councilmember Rocky Holcomb is a chief deputy in the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, a former Marine, and a former representative of the 85th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term for the Kempsville District vacancy on August 12, 2021 and served in that position until a special election in November 2022, where he was elected as the representative for District 1. Rocky serves as a City Council liaison to the Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Clean Community Commission, Community Services Board, Military Economic Development Advisory Committee and Urban Agricultural Advisory Committee; an appointed member of the Green Ribbon Committee; and an alternate for the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization.

Councilmember Holcomb has served the Sheriff's Office since 1991 and prior to his promotion to chief deputy in May 2018, served as captain of the Criminal Intelligence Unit and Classification Division. He currently oversees the VBSO's Administration.

Rocky served eight years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman (three years of active service and five years as an inactive reservist). After joining the Sheriff's Office, he earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership and management from Regent University and graduated from the West Point Leadership Course. He is an active volunteer, dedicating his time to the Pungo Strawberry Festival, Kempsville Meadows Elementary School and Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA. In 2017, he won a special election to represent the 85th District in the Virginia House of Delegates becoming the first ever full-time law enforcement officer to be elected to the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. He served during the 2017 legislative session, helping successfully carry bills to improve mental health treatment for jail inmates (HB2184).

During his career at the Sheriff's Office, Holcomb has served as commander of the Emergency Response Team and championed efforts to improve mental health treatment for inmates, including by creating the Mental Health Housing Unit and a gardening therapy program, Operation Green Thumb. He implemented the K9 Unit and oversaw operations for the K9 program. As captain of the Classification Division, Holcomb was instrumental in the creation of the Reentry and Veterans programs. The Reentry Program is one of the most successful in the state, with a success rate of 67% or better.

Robert W. "Worth" Remick

District #6

Council Member Worth Remick was elected on November 8, 2022, to serve a four-year term as the District 6 representative. He will serve as a City Council liaison to the Resort Advisory Commission, Flood Prevention Bond Referendum Oversight Board, Old Beach Design Review Committee, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation, Towing Advisory Board, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority and Atlantic Park Project, and has been appointed to the Advertising Advisory Committee, Audit Committee and Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee. He also serves as liaison to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the ViBe Creative District.

Born and raised in Suffolk and Smithfield, Virginia, Worth graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in Humanities. As a four-year tennis athlete, he was All-ODAC for three years and attained national rankings for Division III tennis. He moved to Virginia Beach in 1985 when he began his commercial real estate career. He is in his 38th year as a realtor at Colliers International, and as a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), he advises businesses and owners on their industrial real estate needs. Worth also served as a legislative aide in the Virginia State Senate in the 1984 Virginia General Assembly and is a fellow at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at UVA.

Worth has volunteered for several community organizations and boards throughout his career, including South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity, Green Run Collegiate, Virginia Beach Forum, and various leadership roles at his church, Eastern Shore Chapel. From 2000 to 2006, he was the head tennis coach for both boys' and girls' teams at Frank W. Cox High School. He currently serves on the Mayor's Commission on Offshore Wind and Clean Energy and the African American Cultural Center Board and previously on the Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation Board.

Worth enjoys spending time with his wife, Mary Gentry, two stepdaughters and their family and friends in Virginia Beach.

Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond

District #4

Councilmember Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond was elected in the November 2022 election to represent District 4. She previously served as a member of City Council from 2012 to 2016. Amelia has been appointed to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (HRT), and is a liaison to the 2040 Vision to Action Community Coalition, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Housing Advisory Board, Minority Business Council, Central Business District and Something in the Water Festival.

Amelia is a high school graduate of Moreton Hall in Shropshire, England; holds a bachelor's in music education from Ithaca College, New York; a master's in music education from the College of New Jersey; and a doctorate in education leadership, curriculum, and instructions with a minor in ethnomusicology from the University of Denver. She is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership program from the University of Virginia and retired from Norfolk State University as distinguished professor emerita. She also served as the chair for the Virginia Music Educators Conference Multicultural Awareness Committee.

Politically, Amelia has received several gubernatorial appointments, including the Council on the Status of Women by Gov. Kaine; Community Services State Board by Gov. McDonnell; Hampton Roads Transit Commission by Gov. McAuliffe and was currently reappointed to HRT by Gov. Northam. She currently chairs the Mayor's IDEA Commission for inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.

A servant leader in the community, Dr. Ross-Hammond is the founder and chairman of the Virginia African American Cultural Center, Inc. Under her leadership, the VAACC was recently awarded a $1 million grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to expand its current educational activities by providing African American historical and cultural programs across the commonwealth.

Amelia has served on multiple boards including chair of the United Way of South Hampton Roads Minority Advisory Council, the Elizabeth River Project and president emerita of Arts for Learning Virginia. She is the immediate past president of the Virginia Beach Beautification Commission, secretary of the Vibe Creative District and board member of the Hospice House of Hampton Roads. Amelia is a founding member of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation's Visionaries for Change, Virginia College Affordability Policy Council and National Black Women for Positive Change.

Dr. Ross-Hammond is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Meyera E. Oberndorf Human Rights Achievement in Government award from the Human Rights Commission; Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Resolution of Recognition from the City of Virginia Beach; "Impacting Lives Award" from the New Journal and Guide; 2021 Servant Leader and a letter of commendation for her community service read at the U.S. Capitol by Congresswoman Elaine Luria.

Jennifer V. Rouse

District #10

Councilmember Jennifer Rouse was elected on November 8, 2022, to serve as the District 10 representative. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, she earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Virginia Wesleyan University. She then graduated with a Master of Science degree in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. While at VCU, she was awarded the L. Douglas Wilder Graduate Scholar Fellowship, which provided numerous research opportunities, including the opportunity to research the barriers and supports to serving low-income youth in Richmond. Jennifer is an assistant professor of Sociology and department chair for Social Sciences and Education at Tidewater Community College.

On city council, Councilmember Rouse has been appointed to the Housing Advisory Board and Active Transportation Advisory Committee, and is a liaison to the Minority Business Council, Public Library Board, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority and Something in the Water Festival.

Jennifer lives in District 10 with her husband, Aaron.

Joashua F. “Joash” Schulman

District #9

Councilmember Joash Schulman was elected on November 8, 2022, to serve as the District 9 representative. He has been appointed to the Audit Committee, Bayfront Advisory Commission and Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and will serve as a City Council liaison to the Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Historic Preservation Commission, Process Improvement Steering Committee, Stormwater Appeals Board, Central Business District and the Atlantic Park Project.

Joash was born and raised in the metro-Detroit area and he and his wife relocated to Virginia Beach in 2007. He is a 2002 graduate of the James Madison College at Michigan State University, earning his undergraduate degree in International Relations with a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Affairs. He continued his studies at Michigan State University College of Law and earned his degree as a juris doctor in 2005.

Prior to being elected to serve on City Council, Joash served as chair of the Virginia Beach Wetlands Board and vice chair of the Envision Virginia Beach 2040 Vision to Action Community Coalition. He has also served on numerous community boards, including Virginia Beach Vision, the Central Business District Association (CBDA), the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Lynnhaven River Now and the Neptune Festival Foundation. He is a past-president of the CBDX, the 40-and-under young professionals' division of the CBDA, a 2022 graduate of the Civic Leadership Institute, and was among the recipients of the Inside Business Top-40-Under-40 award in 2015. Joash is passionate about our local economy and strategic growth initiatives, our public school system, coastal resiliency and environmental issues.

Professionally, Joash practices as a solo real estate and business attorney and serves as the managing partner of Town Center Office Suites, an executive office space serving over 160 small businesses in the heart of the Virginia Beach Town Center.

Joash and his wife, Elaine, reside in the city's Thoroughgood neighborhood with their three daughters.

Chris Taylor

District #8

Councilmember Chris Taylor was elected in November 2022 as the District 8 representative. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, he is a graduate of First Colonial High School and Virginia Wesleyan University. He has been appointed to the Bayfront Advisory Commission, Community Criminal Justice Board and Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and serves as a City Council liaison for the Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Health Services Advisory Board, Housing Advisory Board, Military Economic Development Advisory Committee, Open Space Advisory Committee, Resort Advisory Commission and School Modernization Special Project.

Chris is a partner at Smoothie Stop Café, a family-owned business focused on offering healthy alternatives with five locations in Hampton Roads. He is responsible for a strategic growth plan across multiple cities for the business and has been recognized as one of Inside Business' Top 40 under 40.

An involved resident of the community in which he grew up and resides, Chris is a youth basketball coach with the King's Grant Recreation Association and YMCA of South Hampton Roads. He and his wife, Kim, have been married for 7 years and have two children, Caleb and Christian.

Rosemary Wilson

Vice Mayor - District #5

Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson has held elected office since 1996 — first with the School Board (1996 to 2000, including being vice chairman), then with the City Council (2000 to present). A graduate of Bayside High School and Old Dominion University, Wilson is a realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate.

Recognized in 2012 by “Lawyers Weekly” as one of the Most Influential Women in Virginia, Wilson was also appointed by Gov. McDonnell to the Fair Housing Board and the Local Government Advisory Board to the Chesapeake Bay. She was honored by “Inside Business” in 2007 with the Women in Business Achievement Award, and by the Virginia Beach Education Association in 1999 with the Friend of Education Award. She is a fellow of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia and the Civic Leadership Institute at Old Dominion University.

Rosemary has served as president of the Virginia Municipal League and chairman of the League’s Human Development and Education Committee, as well as the Federal Advocacy Council. In 2016, she was named Volunteer of the Year from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society and is the co-chair of Cycle for Survival, a nonprofit that raises money for rare cancer research.

She is a City Council liaison to the Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission, Development Authority, Health Services Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Commission and School Modernization Special Project, and an appointed member of the Community Organization Grant (COG) Review and Allocation Committee, the In-House Pharmacy Exploratory Committee, the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee and the Southside Network Authority.

Sabrina D. Wooten

District #7

Councilmember Sabrina Wooten was sworn into office on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 to fill the unexpired term of the seat Mayor Dyer vacated as the Centerville district representative in Virginia Beach. On November 3, 2020, she was re-elected as the first African American to serve a second term ever on Virginia Beach City Council. She is currently a City Council liaison to the 5/31 Memorial Committee, 2040 Vision to Action Community Coalition, Arts and Humanities Commission, Atlantic Park Community Development Authority, Parks and Recreation Commission, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Planning Council.

Sabrina is a native of Stuttgart, Germany, but grew up in Hampton Roads and has lived in Virginia Beach for over 16 years. Her passions include combatting poverty, advocating for local businesses and homelessness and protecting our natural resources and quality of life. Sabrina brings 18 years of business, leadership and administrative experience in the private and non-profit sectors.

Sabrina is the creator and host of the Ignite Business Series Seminar that takes place annually to support local, small, women, minority and service disabled business owners. The business series provides businesses with the resources and tools they need to grow and expand.

Sabrina's professional mediation firm Strategic Impact Services, LLC, provides mediation services and business management solutions to business organizations and the community. Additionally, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at Old Dominion University where she teaches Government and Business.

Sabrina was appointed to the 2018 Board of Governors for the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives. Prior to the November 2018 election, she was vice chair of the City's Minority Business Council, and chair of the Outreach Committee. She was also a member of the City's Process Improvement Steering Committee and is a member of the National Small Business Association, the National Society of Leadership and Success Honor Society and the National Association of Professional Women. She is also a former Police Chaplain for the Virginia Beach Police Department.

A published author, Wooten graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. She received master's degrees in business management and public administration from Regent University. She also earned a certificate in biblical studies from Liberty University and a certificate in practical theology from Regent University. She is a Ph.D. candidate and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management and leadership. Sabrina resides with her husband, Donald in the Centerville District.