Virginia Beach real estate developer Michael Sifen contributed $2,500 to the campaign committee Friends of Daniel Whitaker on June 17, 2026. Whitaker serves as a member of the Chesapeake City Council, having been elected in November 2022. A lifelong Chesapeake resident, Whitaker graduated from Oscar Smith High School and the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology before attending Tidewater Community College. He works as a master electrician in both Virginia and North Carolina and owns D2W Electric Inc., which serves Southside Hampton Roads and Northeast North Carolina.
Sifen, who heads Sifen Companies and Michael D. Sifen Inc., maintains a record of supporting candidates in Virginia local races. In 2019 he gave $1,500 to the campaign of Bill DeSteph. He also contributed $25,000 to Rick West. More recently in 2026, Sifen donated $5,000 each to Stacy Cummings, Robert Remick, and Joashua Schulman for their Virginia Beach City Council campaigns. He further provided $3,000 to Andrew Rice for Delegate.
The June 17 contribution arrives as Whitaker continues his service on the Chesapeake City Council, where he participates in decisions affecting local development and infrastructure. Sifen’s business activities include the April 2025 purchase of Greenbrier Mall in Virginia Beach for $22.4 million, underscoring his stake in regional commercial real estate. Whitaker’s background as a local business owner aligns with Sifen’s pattern of backing individuals with experience in trades and enterprise.
This latest donation adds to Sifen’s ongoing involvement in Virginia political giving focused on municipal and state legislative contests. Campaign finance records show these contributions as part of broader support for candidates in the Hampton Roads area. The $2,500 amount represents a direct transfer to Whitaker’s committee ahead of upcoming local electoral cycles.
Observers note Sifen’s consistent engagement with races in Virginia Beach and nearby Chesapeake, where development issues often take center stage. Whitaker’s role on the council includes oversight of matters tied to electric infrastructure and community growth, areas connected to his professional expertise. Sifen’s portfolio of donations illustrates a focus on bolstering local figures with ties to business operations in the region.
The contribution from Sifen comes amid continued activity in Chesapeake municipal governance. Whitaker’s campaign committee received the funds during a period of active local fundraising. Records indicate Sifen’s employer information lists him as associated with real estate development interests in Virginia Beach. This pattern of support extends across multiple candidates in recent cycles, reflecting sustained participation in Virginia’s local political landscape.
