Joash Schulman serves as the District 9 Representative on the Virginia Beach City Council.

Born and raised in the Detroit metropolitan area, Joash attended Hillel Day School and Cranbrook Kingswood School before earning a degree in International Relations from the James Madison College at Michigan State University. He later graduated from Michigan State University College of Law and began his legal career in Washington, D.C.

In 2007, Joash and his wife, Elaine, moved to Virginia Beach and chose to make it their home. Today, he is a business and real estate attorney and entrepreneur, owning and operating Town Center Office Suites, a locally owned executive office business serving more than 160 companies and organizations throughout Hampton Roads.

Before being elected to City Council in 2022, Joash spent years serving the community in appointed and volunteer leadership roles. He served as Chair of the Virginia Beach Wetlands Board and as Vice Chair of the Envision Virginia Beach 2040 Vision to Action Community Coalition. He has also served on a variety of civic, business, and nonprofit boards focused on economic development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Those experiences reinforced his belief that local government functions best when people are willing to engage directly in solving difficult community issues.

Since taking office, he has worked to advance infrastructure, transportation, environmental, and neighborhood improvement projects throughout District 9 and across Virginia Beach. His efforts have helped secure funding for roadway improvements, pedestrian safety projects, flood mitigation initiatives, open-space preservation, environmental restoration efforts, school investments, and neighborhood quality-of-life improvements.

Among the projects he is particularly proud of are the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands along Crab Creek, efforts to create a future neighborhood park at the former Bayside Sixth Grade Campus in Aragona Village, the restoration of tidal wetlands at Pleasure House Point, improvements along the Shore Drive corridor, enhanced pedestrian safety investments, and support for school modernization projects throughout the city.

Joash believes local government works best when it focuses on solving problems, bringing people together, and making thoughtful decisions that balance competing interests. He takes a practical approach to difficult issues, working with residents, civic leagues, businesses, environmental advocates, and fellow elected officials to find solutions that improve the community while respecting neighborhood character.

He currently serves on the Audit Committee, the Bayfront Advisory Commission, and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, while also serving as City Council liaison to several boards and commissions.

Outside of public service, Joash enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors with his family. He and Elaine are raising their three daughters in Virginia Beach and remain deeply invested in the community they are proud to call home.

Whether serving clients, running a small business, or representing District 9, Joash approaches each role with the same philosophy: listen first, learn the facts, and work toward practical solutions that leave things better than he found them.