Meet Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany

I've spent most of my life in the northern part of our city — Uptown. This district isn't just where I live; it's where I became who I am.

I attended and graduated from grade school here. I held my first job here, as a custodian for AAFES. I purchased my first home here, in Courthouse. I met and married my wife here, on Fort Eustis. And over the years, I've built lifelong bonds with the neighbors and residents who call this district home.

It has been the honor of my life to represent the community that shaped me. I hope you'll continue on this journey with us. - Vice Mayor CB3

#uNNity

A happy family of three standing on a staircase: a woman, a man, and a young girl. The woman has her hair tied back and is wearing a teal dress. The man is bald with a beard, dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and a tie. The girl, likely their daughter, is being held by the man and is wearing a leopard print dress with black shoes. They are smiling and looking at the camera, framed by the staircase with wooden sides and metal railings.

Servant Leader

Curtis Bethany III is a servant leader, husband, father, and the youngest youngest Black citizen ever elected in Newport News history. Additionally, his colleagues selected him to serve as Vice Mayor, making him the youngest person to ever hold the title. But before any title, he's a product of our city — raised Uptown, shaped by our people, and driven by a promise to give back to the community that gave him so much.

Vice Mayor Bethany earned his Associate Degree in Business Administration from Virginia Peninsula Community College, a Bachelor's in Business Administration as a double major in Accounting and Finance from Old Dominion University, and a Master's in Public Policy from Liberty University, along with a Business Analytics Certification from Cornell University. That foundation built a career spanning Fortune 500 corporate finance, nonprofit leadership, and economic development — experience he now applies on behalf of every resident he serves.

Since being elected, Vice Mayor Bethany has focused on one thing: improving quality of life for residents Uptown and across Newport News. That means advocating for stronger public safety, better public education, real economic development, and opportunities that empower the next generation of leaders.

For the first time in a long time, Uptown is finally an equal priority in the future of our city's growth. Vice Mayor Bethany believes that momentum shouldn't stop — it should build. He's committed to making sure it does.

At home, Vice Mayor Bethany is a devoted husband to Sema'J and a proud father to their daughter, Aniyah — the two who inspire him most, and the reason he shows up every day ready to fight for a better Newport News.

A man with a bald head and beard being interviewed by multiple news microphones in an indoor setting with a large window in the background.
A newlywed couple celebrating at their wedding reception, with the groom holding a cake-cutting knife and the bride smiling and laughing as they prepare to cut the cake.
A woman with glasses and a red shirt is riding on top of a vehicle while holding a large cut-out of a man's smiling face. There are people in the background at an outdoor event.
A man in a dark blue suit holding a microphone and speaking at a conference with a blue and white backdrop displaying the logo and text for Boards & Commissions for the City of New York.
Group of five diverse people smiling at a formal event, with one man holding an award in the center.
Three men with sunglasses are talking and smiling on a sidewalk near a chain-link fence, with two women in the background, one holding papers and the other wearing sunglasses and a red top.
A man and woman dressed in formal/business attire are standing together indoors, smiling and looking into each other's eyes, with greenery and modern decor in the background.
A man with a beard and bald head, wearing a light purple shirt, is speaking into a microphone and gesturing with his finger during a meeting or conference. Several people are seated and listening, with some looking at him. The setting is indoors with
A diverse group of people, including a man with dreadlocks and a beard, and a man in a suit, standing in a church or chapel, with some people holding their hands over their hearts and others with hands raised, during a moment of prayer or song.
Three police officers sitting at a table during an indoor event, with people in the background, and various items like magazines and papers on the table.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony with five individuals, three men and two women, standing in front of a building with the sign feeling Legacy Landing, 1600 Jefferson Ave. They are holding large scissors, and the woman in black is about to cut the ribbon tha
A man in a suit speaking at a podium with a sign that says 'President Joe Biden, Investing in America,' with a background banner reading 'HUD U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development,' and a flag standing nearby.