PORTSMOUTH — Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke declared a run for mayor in next year’s election, challenging Mayor Shannon Glover.
Lucas-Burke, first elected to City Council in 2016, made a formal announcement of her candidacy Tuesday during a news conference at the Lucas Lodge administration building, which harbors her family’s business.
In 2024, Portsmouth will have three seats up for grabs on City Council in addition to the mayoral election. Lucas-Burke’s term as a council member is set to expire next year, along with Council members De’Andre Barnes and Mark Whitaker.
Reached by phone Tuesday, Glover confirmed he will seek reelection.
Lucas-Burke said she’s running to bring a different perspective as the only woman who’s served on City Council over the past few years. She also said though she and Glover have become friends working alongside each other, “this is about the business of Portsmouth and moving forward.”
“Portsmouth deserves a mayor who will be a consensus builder,” Lucas-Burke said. “Portsmouth deserves a mayor who is a communicator. Portsmouth deserves a mayor who will use her voice to uplift all of the voices in the city of Portsmouth for effectual government.”
During her remarks Tuesday, Lucas-Burke championed her recent vote supporting collective bargaining and said she’ll do her part to make sure employees have competitive salaries. Glover voted against the measure. Lucas-Burke also said she believes her run will help the infighting that often plays out among council members, adding she hopes more candidates, especially women, will run to “change up” the male-dominated council makeup.
The Portsmouth native is the executive director and partner of Lucas Lodge LLC. She spent more than a decade working for the city, primarily in the city’s data processing department from 1988-98. Since her election to City Council, she’s served two stints as vice mayor. She’s also served as vice chair and chair of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority.
No other candidates have announced plans to run. Portsmouth’s mayoral and City Council elections are non-partisan, so no primaries are held before the November general election.
Glover highlighted several accomplishments under his tenure as mayor, such as the opening of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, securing funding for the city’s new Innovation District and developing a more robust workforce training program.
“Portsmouth is in position to do a lot of major important things in terms of economic development, in terms of infrastructure changes, in terms of public safety and moving our city forward,” Glover said. “So, as such, I will be asking the citizens of Portsmouth to support me one more time, to be their elected leader to move Portsmouth in a more positive direction.”
Glover was elected to council in 2018 and won a mayoral bid in 2020 after an unsuccessful run in 2016. He is the president and owner of Commonwealth Employee Benefit Solutions, Inc. The Navy veteran has been involved with a number of community organizations, including the Portsmouth division of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club and a past stint on the Paul D. Camp Community College board. And as mayor, he’s a member of numerous regional organizations.
During Lucas-Burke’s announcement, she was flanked by her mother, longtime state Sen. Louise Lucas, who said she encouraged her daughter to finally make the bid for mayor.
“This is something that I’ve tried to get her to do for years,” Lucas said. “First of all, it took me 10 years to get her to run for City Council. And now I think it’s an opportune time for her to show her leadership as she steps forward as mayor. And God knows, the citizens of this city are begging for new leadership.”
Other supporters at Tuesday’s announcement event included Council member Vernon Tillage and Portsmouth Sheriff Michael Moore — both told The Virginian-Pilot they’re supporting Lucas-Burke’s campaign.
The filing deadline for next year’s election is June 18.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
