Hampton City Council results: Mugler, Harper, Gray and Brown appear likely to win

Incumbent Hampton City Council members Jimmy Gray Jr. and Steven Brown appeared likely to win re-election Tuesday night, as did former delegate Martha Mugler, according to unofficial results provided Tuesday night by Hampton voter registrar Tara Morgan.

Mugler, who lost her bid for re-election to the House of Delegates last year, had the most votes in the at-large election — 24,249.

“I plan to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Mugler said Tuesday night. “I am really excited to have the opportunity to serve the city I was born in and where all my friends and family are.”

She said every voter she talked to said it was important to reduce crime, youth violence and gun violence. Mugler said she would set to work addressing those issues, economic development, flood resiliency as well as using her 12 years of experience from the city school board to ensure funding and support for the schools continue.

“Public education is in my heart and from that perspective, (I understand) how important it is to work with the school board,” Mugler said.

Gray had 20,004 votes and Brown had 18,280. The fourth-place candidate, Christopher R. Mathews, had 8,936 votes, while fifth-place candidate Marlin Manley had 6,434 votes. Gray could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday night after the complete unofficial results were posted.

Brown said he was thankful to voters for “rehiring” him back to City Council.

“I think it speaks to the good work (City Council is) doing and trying to do to build a great city and work toward economic development, work toward job creation, mitigating flooding issues and concerns,” he said Tuesday.

Brown said he will work to grow small businesses and connecting citizens returning from incarceration with job training to help them on a more productive life path.

“I think they need a second chance to prove they have paid their fines, done their time, now let’s give them the opportunity to be a good citizen,” Brown said.

Another opportunity for the city is to grow more sports tourism opportunities, like the new aquaplex and the Boo Williams Sportsplex, with more soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, Brown said.

In a special election, Hope Harper, an ally of several city leaders, appeared on track to defeat restaurant owner Randy Bowman Sr. Harper was leading with 20,888 votes to Bowman’s 15,377.

“I’m very honored that the community spoke in favor of me representing them on Hampton City Council as I am ready to work, serve and learn,” Harper said Tuesday night.

She said the victory means she can now pursue her platform of reducing crime, economic growth, health neighborhoods and community engagement while on the dais. In addition she said she will work to expand the tax revenue base for the city through jobs, retail, housing and tourism.