SALISBURY — By the end of tonight’s Salisbury City Council meeting, a new mayor and mayor pro tem will have been elected, two new council members sworn in, and two current council members ending their tenure.

Challengers Al Heggins and Tamara Sheffield earned two of the available five seats on the council in the Nov. 7 election, with 2,159 votes and 1,767 votes, respectively.

Heggins received the highest number of votes of all 13 candidates, with incumbent David Post coming in just 10 votes behind her.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Alexander came in third place with 1,792 votes, and incumbent Brian Miller came in fifth with 1,713 votes.

Incumbent Kenny Hardin came in seventh place with 1,489 votes, meaning that tonight’s council meeting will be his last.

Four-term council member Maggie Blackwell will also serve at her last meeting tonight. She decided not to run for re-election.

Because of Salisbury bylaws, voters do not elect the mayor and mayor pro tem. Instead, the new council members will elect them once the retiring council adjourns.

When the meeting begins at 5 p.m., the retiring council — Blackwell, Post, Alexander, Miller and Hardin — will sit in their usual seats.

After an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, the retiring council will adjourn and the new council — Sheffield, Post, Alexander, Heggins and Miller — will assemble.

The new council members will take an oath of office and, after a temporary chairman is appointed, the new council will make nominations for mayor and mayor pro tem.

Traditionally, the mayor and mayor pro tem positions go to the two highest vote-getters. Therefore, it is widely expected that Heggins will be elected mayor and Post will be elected mayor pro tem.

Once the new mayor and mayor pro tem are elected, the City Council meeting will proceed as usual, though the agenda will be lighter than average.

The council will consider adopting a resolution in recognition of Blackwell’s and Hardin’s service to the city, adopt the consent agenda, and consider making appointments to 19 boards and commissions.

There will also be a public-comment period and time for comments from City Manager Lane Bailey.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 217 S. Main St.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.