Several weeks back, in a local black-owned barbershop, a barber referred to Al Heggins as “our mayor.” The power that manifests in those simple words has the capacity to change lives in our southern community; it gives an indispensable hope to a community of people that have been historically marginalized and oppressed.

Our mayor, Al Heggins, whom I’ve watched personally commit her entire body to being a champion of change for all people, authentically captured the hearts of Salisbury because she has the undeniable skills and because she lives and breathes an appetency for an equitable, strong Salisbury.

Heggins has stood in the face of criticism, patriarchy, injustice and blatant racism — she stood for us. It is our obligation as a community to vote with an assurance that the people we put in positions of power will defend our lives and will fight for our lives. It is our obligation to make history and demonstrate to future candidates that the bar to meet is the Heggins bar.

There are not many that I would advocate for this strongly. As a community organizer, I understand that the ingredients to a strong community begin with people who care about a just world; when people care about equitable, safe and healthy communities with particular interest in the most marginalized, it transforms the make-up of our community for the good. A vote for Heggins is for the good of our community.

Lastly, when young black girls look at our mayor and say, “I want to be like Mayor Heggins when I grow up,” that is a spark of light; this inspiration is priceless, leading most to aspire to something they otherwise couldn’t imagine.

Me? I want to be like Mayor Heggins when I grow up.

Vote, for our mayor.

— Ash Love

Salisbury