McLeod, Garimella and Schneider to Lead NC League of Municipalities

Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod will serve as president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities over the next year.

McLeod was chosen by League members, representatives from cities and towns across North Carolina. He was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt on May 7, 2026, at the League's annual conference, CityVision, held in Raleigh.

Joining McLeod as executive officers for the League are Morrisville Council Member Satish Garimella as first vice-president and Oak Ridge Council Member Ann Schneider as second vice-president. Albermarle Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall will stay on the executive board as the immediate past president.

CityVision is the League's premier event, which gathered more than 600 municipal leaders and staff for three days of learning and networking at the Raleigh Convention Center. Educational sessions addressed disaster preparedness, leadership and regionalization.

McLeod has served as Clayton’s mayor since 2003 and has served on the town board since 1996, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience at the Town of Clayton. During his elected public service tenure, McLeod has held various leadership positions, including serving on the League's board of directors and the Risk Management Services board of trustees as vice- chair. He served on the founding board of directors for the North Carolina Mayors Association, a group of local North Carolina mayors who regularly meet to discuss common challenges and solutions. Additionally, McLeod is a local business owner in Clayton, having owned the florist shop Annie V’s Inc. since 1990. He serves as the Southern Chapter Representative at the American Institute of Floral Designers Foundation.

“I am truly grateful for the confidenceyou’ve placed in me as your president. In the coming year, my goal is to build on the momentum we’ve created here—to strengthen collaboration, support local leaders and continue advancing the work that matters most to our cities and towns. To truly embody our motto of working as one, advancing all,” said McLeod in his remarks at CityVision.

The League’s Executive Director, Rose Vaughn Williams, said, “Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod brings genuine care to every relationship and every community he serves. As board president of the League, Mayor McLeod will bring people together the way he always has—with vision, creativity, humility and a deep commitment to helping local leaders and communities thrive.”

2026-2027 ELECTED & APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS

Jody McLeod Mayor, Clayton, President

Satish Garimella Council Member, Morrisville, First Vice-President

Ann Schneider Council Member, Oak Ridge, Second Vice-President

Martha Sue Hall Mayor Pro Tem, Albemarle, Immediate Past President

David Hunt, Mayor Pro Tem, Ahoskie, District 1

Francisco Rivas-Diaz, Mayor Pro Tem, Wallace, District 3

Leo Taylor, Council Member, Tarboro, District 5

Mary Jo Adams, Council Member, Laurinburg, District 7

Franco McGee, Council Member, Monroe, District 8

Brittany Barnhardt, Mayor, Granite Quarry, District 9

Doug Matheson, Council Member, Blowing Rock, District 10

Hayley Beauty, Mayor, Dallas, District 11

Mike Lewis, Council Member, Franklin, At Large

Dwight Lake, Mayor, Mayodan, At Large

Justin Whiteside, Ocean Isle Beach, Municipal Manager

Jason Lunsford, Shelby, Municipal Attorney

Michael O’Dell, Kill Devil Hills, Municipal Clerk

LARGE CITY SEATS

Carl Rist, Council Member, Durham

Tammi Thurm, Council Member, Greensboro

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS

Elizabeth Morey, Mayor, Southern Shores

Tim Radford, Mayor, Murphy

Bill Saffo, Mayor, Wilmington