Tina Vick is a candidate for Newport News City Council – South. Her name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
Vick, who was elected to the Newport News City Council in May 2008, is running against Clifton Atkins for Newport News City Council – South.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: Tina L. Vick was born and raised in Newport News in the Southeast Community. She was educated in the public school system and graduated from Homer L. Ferguson High School in 1980 and went on to receive her bachelor of science degree in communications in 1984 from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2011, she attended the Alpha College of Real Estate and became a licensed real estate agent. She is currently owner and principal real estate broker of Tina L. Vick Realty, LLC. Vick has a daughter and a son, Teunsha and Terrance Vick, and grandsons, Shamar, Tyree, and Tyson.
Since being elected to office in July 2008, Vick has led the efforts to obtain 3 new housing complexes in the South District; the Noland Green Apartments, 60 adaptive reuse units for
mixed income families, and also the Heritage Forest Apartments, 248 newly constructed apartments and Brennan Pointe Apartments.
Vick is chair of the consortium for the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and in 2008, she pushed to form a committee to employ 150 youth in Newport News with the summer youth employment funding from President Obama.
She was tired of the future site of the MLK Plaza sign in her district, and encouraged the city council to build the plaza. It was completed in 2010. Also in 2010, Vick was the lead advocate for summer jobs for low income youth in her district. During the summer job program, 1500 youth ages 16-24 were employed through the Summer Training & Enrichment Program. Vick has worked to bring the first Walmart to her district, a district that has for years been underserved and most recently, a newly-built full grocery store to a food desert in her district. Her strong advocacy for investment in an underserved area has led to millions in city revenue for retail and co-working space, infrastructure improvements, including underground utilities and new streetscape designs in the Lower Jefferson Avenue Corridor, as well as increased economic development. In 2019, Newport News received a $30 million grant from HUD to repurpose its oldest public housing units in Ridley Circle.
The award winning speaker, real estate professional and author is featured in publications such as “MyTime Magazine for Women,” the “New Journal & Guide,” the “Hampton Roads Voice,” and a variety of radio and television shows. Her awards include the Suntrust Diversity & Inclusion Award, Hampton Roads Black Caucus Breakfast of Champions Award, EBONY NN Community
Award and the Norvleate Downing-Gross Achievement Award. She is also the founder and CEO of “Girls Camp” for teenage girls ages 13 to 18 in Newport News to assist young girls in underserved neighborhoods with decisionmaking and life skills training, under her non-profit, Women’s Empowerment Development, Incorporated. The non-profit recently received the Governor’s Virginia Statewide Business District Resurgence Grant Award in 2022.
The Honorable Councilwoman Vick was re-elected for her fourth term in office in 2020, and was voted by her colleagues to serve as the Vice Mayor for two terms (2016-2020.) She wants to continue to implement policy for Newport News citizens. She is the author of her first book, “Growing Up Vick, The Strength and Resilience of the Vick Family.” Vick was recently featured on the national television show, “ESPN 30 for 30, Vick,” A Documentary about former NFL Superstar Quarterback Michael Vick, who is Ms. Vick’s nephew
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for Newport News City Council to continue the great work I have done in the City of Newport News. I am continuing to serve the citizens with experience and leadership.
What is the top challenge facing Newport News, and how would you address it?
The top priority in my opinion is to continue to have excellent leadership in Newport News, working with the large and small businesses that support and employ citizens to help them have a good quality of life. I will continue to address it by being active on the city council, the Hampton Roads Workforce Board, Vice Chairperson of Virginia First Cities and engaged with citizens, businesses, our community and local colleges, and work with the mayor and council to follow the strategic plan.
What is your view on addressing the affordable housing crisis?
My view for on addressing the affordable housing crisis, which consists of the problem of higher rent prices, increased single family home prices, and increased population. In Newport News we are continuing to have a mixture of housing which includes subsidized housing and continuing to work with Newport News Redevelopment & Housing Authority and other housing leaders to bring solutions to the affordable housing crisis.
What is your view on what the City should do with the Newport News Williamsburg Airport? Should commercial services be suspended to save money? Should the city use general fund revenues to subsidize the airport?
My view on what we as a city should do with the Newport News Williamsburg Airport is to continue to work with the board members to find solutions to how to make the airport successful.
What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?
There are people who are doing business in our cities who support campaigns because they support what a candidate represents. As long as they are not paying you for supporting or pushing their project through, I support it.
How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?
As far as valuing constituents with whom I don’t agree with, being and experienced leader, there is not any time when individuals agree on everything and think alike on every issue. I am able to continue to work with people who do not agree with everything I say or do as a leader.
Will you be accessible to journalist inquiries directly, or rely on the newly created City Council Press Secretary position?
Yes, I will be accessible to journalists inquiries directly on some issues.
