Letter: Heggins opened access to city

Published 12:00 am Sunday, October 20, 2019

Several years ago, Al Heggins worked alongside many fellow citizens to understand and reduce violence in Salisbury.

She generously shared her leadership and facilitation skills to create collaborative change. All were invited to the table and no topic was too difficult or uncomfortable to address. When citizens gathered to examine and respectfully challenge one another’s perspectives, we found common ground in uncommon ways. Heggins’ collaborative leadership helped us create deeply rooted progress that continues today. Her election as mayor was far from accidental.

Today, Mayor Heggins continues to lead alongside and on behalf of Salisbury’s citizens. By establishing the “People’s House” and expanding access to City Council’s agenda, she encourages more citizens to take part in creating Salisbury’s future and take responsibility for its past. Mayor Heggins sets a standard for inclusion and transparency we now expect of ourselves and our elected officials.

She includes citizens in many facets of civic life, from welcoming White House officials to extending citizens an open invitation to participate in City Council retreats. She seeks grassroots input on civic actions such as Salisbury’s nationally recognized Resolution of Reconciliation. She believes in the power of citizens to respectfully share and hear our various perspectives on the Confederate monument.  Under Heggins’s leadership Salisbury has established a citizen-based Fair Housing Committee, convened a N.C. School Justice Partnership and been recognized as a welcoming city.

In 2017 Mayor Al Heggins was intentionally chosen by a majority of voters to lead Salisbury. Let’s keep Salisbury moving forward by supporting her again. Let’s work together on infrastructure, innovation and inclusion, to support a living wage and promote equitable distribution of economic and cultural resources throughout Salisbury. Let’s keep Salisbury strong. Vote for Al Heggins for City Council.

— Susan Lee

Salisbury