Sheffield named new mayor, former mayor Kluttz named to council

Published 9:20 pm Tuesday, February 4, 2025

SALISBURY — The Salisbury City Council will have a new look filled with familiar faces at its next meeting, as the members voted to name current Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Sheffield as the mayor and name former Mayor Susan Kluttz as the new city council member to fill the vacancy.

In addition, the members voted to name Council member Harry McLaughlin as the city’s new mayor pro tem, filling the seat formerly held by Sheffield. All of the motions were approved unanimously by the members of the city council.

The mayoral seat has been vacant since former Mayor Karen Alexander died in late December.  

“It’s an honor to serve Salisbury during this important transition. My previous service has given me a deep appreciation for local government’s role in enhancing quality of life, and I look forward to partnering with Mayor Sheffield, Mayor Pro Tem McLaughlin, and the entire council to help and support them in any way I can,” said Kluttz in a press release from the city.

Kluttz previously served on the city council for 14 years, serving as the mayor of Salisbury from 1997 to 2011. Council member David Post, who nominated her, said during the meeting that the council was considering Kluttz not just for her prior experience on the council, but also because she had remained closely involved in the city government.

“She’s done so much. She brings this institutional knowledge to Salisbury and she is actually very up-to-date with what we’re doing. She met with Mayor Alexander every week for lunch, and will walk in knowing the city in one hand and everything we’re doing in the other,” said Post.

In addition, she served in the state cabinet as the Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. During her tenure, Kluttz oversaw  the merger of the Culture Resources department with Natural Resources, expanding her department to include both the preservation of the state’s arts, history and libraries along with all of the state parks, aquariums, science museums and the N.C. Zoo.

“We are thrilled to have Susan’s breadth of experience back in a municipal role. Her extensive experience in local governance and statewide cultural advocacy will greatly benefit our community as we navigate future challenges and opportunities,” said Sheffield in the release.

Sheffield has been on the city council since first being elected in 2017.

Kluttz will fill the remainder of Sheffield’s term, which means that her seat will be up for reelection during the next regularly-scheduled election in November. The same is true for Sheffield, as the mayoral seat is elected separately but also up for election in November.

All three of Sheffield, Kluttz and McLaughlin will officially be sworn into their new roles during the next city council meeting.

For an expanded story on the city council changes, check out Thursday’s Salisbury Post.