I am a former resident of Salisbury and truly loved my time there. During my time in the city, I had the pleasure of getting to know many of this year’s City Council candidates, and even worked for Mayor Karen Alexander privately. With that said, there are two candidates this year that I recommend that everyone consider, even if the only commonality between you and the candidate is your love for Salisbury.

Having been an employee of Mayor Alexander’s for three years, I got to see firsthand, day in and day out, how she truly cares about the city and all who live there. Over her almost 30 years in the city, she has connected to neighborhoods and people all over. As an architect, she has played a role in many beautiful structures throughout the city, with the Police Station, The Aymer Center at Hood Theological Seminary and renovations at Livingstone College being among her most known. She puts so much energy and effort into bettering Salisbury that I don’t know anyone better for the job of representing the city on the City Council.

The other candidate I can personally attest to being a homerun would be Tamara Sheffield. I got to know Tamara through the Citizens Academy in 2015 and know she is the right person for the job of being a council member. She cares about everyone in the city, state and world; I know she would work tirelessly for the people. Truly understanding diversity and division and how to work proactively and positively towards change, Tamara would be the perfect addition to City Council.

I hope come Election Day that you find these two candidates worthy of your vote.

— Jeremy Gardner

Phoenix, Ariz.