City leaders in two coastal counties were recently elected to the N.C. League of Municipalities’ board of directors.
Beaufort Mayor Sharon Harker and Washington City Manager Jonathan Russell were sworn in May 1 with other newly elected board members during the league’s annual CityVision 2025 conference in Greenville.
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The league’s board of directors are elected by representatives of cities and towns across North Carolina. The board represents and works with league members from those cities and towns “working for a better North Carolina,” according to a release.
Harker, Beaufort’s first Black mayor, is now representing district 2, which includes Carteret, Onslow, Jones, Craven, Pamlico, Beaufort, and Hyde counties. Her two-year term ends 2027, the same year her mayoral term ends.
“Serving in this type of leadership role will allow me to make a broader impact, inspire and motivate others, foster growth, and contribute to a positive environment and organizational success for the NCLM,” Harker said in a release. “As a board member, I will aim to contribute to the success of the League’s future visions. I understand the importance of growing municipal leaders in all areas of North Carolina.”
Russell now serves as an at-large manager of the board of directors.
“My goal is to assist municipalities to thrive amidst changing demographics, urbanization, and economic forces,” he wrote in a question-and-answer segment posted on the league’s website.
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He goes on to say he will advocate “for policies that enhance local decision-making, promoting sustainable growth, and supporting innovative solutions to community challenges.”
