Name: Jeremy McGee

Age: 41

Website: https://www.mcgeefornorfolk.com

Biography: Jeremy McGee is a Norfolk native by choice, an entrepreneur since youth, and a determined advocate for his city’s future. His journey began in small-town South Carolina, where he launched a lawn care business with his brothers. His fascination with computers led him to start a business building and repairing computers that gained national recognition while in high school. This early success helped pave his path to Norfolk.

While attending the University of South Carolina studying Computer Engineering, Jeremy launched an Internet company that developed technology to provide a safe Internet experience for children. This grew to be one of the largest family focused dialup Internet services in the country and was sold to a larger company in Norfolk in 2005.

Jeremy moved to Norfolk with the company, fell in love with the city’s charm, and has since become a vital part of the city’s business fabric. He leads Radiant Digital, a media company employing around 50 people across the country. With his wife Malia, he also founded the popular boutique inn and restaurant, Four Eleven York, a testament to their shared love for the city.

McGee’s entrepreneurial success and investments in Norfolk fueled his civic engagement. He honed his leadership skills through his neighborhood civic league, the Visit Norfolk board, the Architectural Review Board (ARB), and the City of Norfolk Planning Commission. These experiences ignited his desire to serve his city even further.

Now, Jeremy is running for Norfolk City Council Superward 6, driven by his belief that bold, experienced leadership is essential for the city’s continued growth. He envisions a Norfolk that champions safe streets, revitalizes education, empowers businesses, and ensures thriving neighborhoods. Jeremy McGee is determined to bring his entrepreneurial acumen, passion for Norfolk, and a fresh perspective to work to drive Norfolk forward.

Why are you running for this office?

I am running for Norfolk City Council, Superward 6, because I believe our city has incredible potential that has yet to be fully realized. Norfolk is a city with deep roots, a rich history, and tremendous assets—from our miles of waterfront to our diverse communities. But to secure a prosperous future, we need bold, experienced leadership that understands the challenges we face and is committed to turning them into opportunities.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of building businesses in Norfolk and serving in various civic roles, which has given me a clear view of what works in our city and where we can do better. I’m running to ensure that Norfolk remains competitive and vibrant, that our neighborhoods are safe and thriving, and that our families have access to high-quality education and affordable housing. I want to make sure that Norfolk is a place where businesses can flourish, where our government is an ally to its citizens, and where every resident feels proud to call this city home.

I’m committed to working tirelessly to build a Norfolk that works for everyone and to move Norfolk Forward!

What is the top challenge facing Norfolk, and how would you address it?

My top priority is to ensure Norfolk residents are getting the best deal possible. Specifically, that means that residents get high-quality services, particularly public safety, neighborhood improvements, and education, in return for a reasonable tax rate and cost of living

I will relentlessly focus on strengthening public safety by fully staffing our police force, fully staffing our 911 call centers, and enhancing mental health and domestic response capabilities. I will advocate for more attention, focus and investment in our neighborhoods to include the most essential city services like lighting, road and sidewalk maintenance, stormwater infrastructure, traffic and code enforcement, upkeep of parks and city properties, general cleanliness, and customer service. I will work to improve our school facilities, invest in more career and technical programs, and to fight for the public education that our children deserve and our city needs in order to grow and thrive.

I will be a persistent advocate for elevating these fundamental city services to ensure a safer, more vibrant, and thriving Norfolk for all residents.

What is your view addressing the affordable housing crisis?

To address the affordable housing crisis in Norfolk, we must both increase the housing supply and mitigate the rising costs of our existing housing stock. We can achieve this by funding the housing trust, enacting sensible zoning reforms, and streamlining our bureaucracy. The housing trust fund will provide important funding for building affordable units and mitigating evictions. Zoning reforms will allow for new homes to be built across the city. Streamlining our building permits and site plan reviews will cut costs faced by developers and get them building faster. Additionally, we should expedite the sale of city-owned vacant parcels to local developers while encouraging the development of ADUs and missing middle housing that provide opportunities for home ownership, wealth building, and aging in place across the city. It is also important to remember that property taxes contribute significantly to housing costs for both owners and renters alike. I supported the recent property tax rate reduction and believe we should continue to carefully consider the impact of property taxes on housing affordability.

What is your view on transparency and how do you feel the city can improve, if at all?

Transparency is the foundation of good governance. It’s essential that residents feel informed, involved, and confident that their city government is acting in their best interests. I believe that Norfolk can and must do more to ensure that transparency is not just a buzzword but a core value that guides every decision and action taken by the city.

One of the key ways the city can improve transparency is by making information more accessible and understandable to the public. This means not just posting documents online but ensuring that these materials are easy to find, written in plain language, are multilingual, distributed widely, and available well in advance of key decisions.

Another area for improvement is the way the city communicates the progress of major projects and initiatives. Residents deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent and what outcomes they can expect. This includes providing clear timelines, reporting on milestones, and being upfront about any challenges or changes along the way.

Ultimately, transparency builds trust, and trust is critical to the success of any city. As a member of the Norfolk City Council, I will work tirelessly to promote transparency in every aspect of our city’s operations, ensuring that residents are not just passive observers but active participants in the governance of our community.

Do you believe the city focuses too much of its efforts downtown at the expense of other areas in the city?

Downtown Norfolk is undoubtedly an economic and cultural hub for the city, and investments there are important for generating tax dollars that fund neighborhoods, schools, and public safety across the entire city. However, it is clear that some parts of our city have suffered from a persistent lack of investment. As I travel through Superward 6, I see areas like Wards Corner, Little Creek, and Ocean View brimming with opportunity, yet they need more resources to realize that potential. There’s no silver bullet, however, it’s clear that these areas need better infrastructure, more upkeep and maintenance, enhanced landscaping and beach care, increased code enforcement, and investment in key projects..

While my primary focus is on representing the voters of Superward 6, if elected, I will be voting on issues that impact the entire city. I am eager to collaborate with other council members to ensure that we also invest in Superward 7 and the east side of Norfolk. This means prioritizing infrastructure, public safety, education, and community amenities in every neighborhood and actively engaging with residents across the city to understand their specific needs and priorities.

Moving Norfolk Forward requires strong, vibrant neighborhoods throughout the entire city—not just downtown.

What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?

In a city like Norfolk, virtually every resident is impacted by City Council decisions at one time or another. Whether it’s a matter of public safety, infrastructure, housing, or economic development, the choices made by the council affect the lives of all our citizens.

Campaign contributions are a legitimate part of the political process, and it’s natural for individuals or businesses who care about Norfolk’s future to support candidates they believe in. However, it is crucial that these contributions are never accepted as part of a quid pro quo or from individuals or businesses with a pending matter before the council.

As a candidate and potential council member, I am committed to ensuring that every decision I make is based on what is best for the entire community, without any undue influence from campaign donors. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the residents of Norfolk, and I am committed to making decisions that reflect their best interests.

Norfolk has long been accused of having a shadow government, in which decisions are made by influential business leaders who support certain elected officials. Is this a fair criticism?

For the seat I’m running for on Norfolk City Council, history has shown that the broader population of residents ultimately decide who is elected, not any perceived shadow government. The voters in Superward 6 have consistently chosen their representatives based on their commitment to the community and the issues that matter most to them. A testament to this is that incumbent candidates have lost this seat in the past. While I can’t speak for the influence that a perceived shadow government may have had on existing elected officials, I do acknowledge that this is a concern some residents have expressed.

It’s important to recognize that business leaders, like all community members, have a role to play in shaping the future of Norfolk. They bring valuable perspectives and resources that can help drive economic growth and development. However, their influence should not come at the expense of others. I’m fortunate to be supported by a diverse group of people, including civic leaders, teachers, law enforcement officers, veterans, small business owners, retirees, and many hard working everyday residents from across our city.

Throughout my career, I’ve built my reputation on listening to others, embracing differing opinions, and building consensus. I look forward to bringing that same approach to Norfolk City Council.