WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Three out of five seats on the Williamsburg City Council have been filled, pending provisional ballots and certification.
Two incumbents, Vice Mayor Pat Dent and Councilwoman Barbara Ramsey, sought reelection, while Councilman Caleb Rogers did not. Three newcomers also threw their hats into the political arena to get one of the three seats.
Although their top priorities differed, each Williamsburg city council candidate shared a common vision: the desire to make the community a better place to live and work.
Based on unofficial results, Dent and Ramsey are projected to hold onto their seats, while first-time candidate Ayanna Williams is expected to win the third seat.
Pat Dent held onto his seat on the Williamsburg City Council, earning the most votes of all five candidates. He served as the city's fire chief and retired in 2019. He ran with the hopes to see a resolution within the school division after James City County supervisors discussed plans to separate the school system.
Barbara Ramsey also held onto her seat on the Williamsburg City Council, earning the third-most votes of all five candidates. She said she plans to continue improving transportation, providing quality education, and strengthening the local economy.
First-time candidate Ayanna Williams also won a seat on the Williamsburg City Council, earning the second-most votes of all nine candidates. Williams, a junior studying government at William and Mary, told 13News Now before the election that her priorities centered on more affordable housing, environmental protections, and investing in K through 12 education.
For the other trailing candidates, Alexander Hudgins gathered 17.58% of the vote, with Lindsay Barna coming in fifth with 13.56% of the vote.
