{"biography":"Surluta B. Anthony is a Democratic candidate for mayor of the City of Monroe, North Carolina, in the November 3, 2026 general election. Monroe holds mayoral elections every four years, and the winner will serve as the city\u2019s chief elected official, responsible for leading municipal government and implementing council policies [16].\n\nAnthony has been a public servant in Monroe for more than a decade. She was first elected to the Monroe City Council in December 2013, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the council, and was re\u2011elected in 2023 for a second term [13][16]. She has also served as mayor pro tem since July 2024, after a council vote removed the previous mayor pro tem and installed her in that role [16].\n\nHer professional background includes service as a Probation Parole Officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and work as a Field Director and Mentoring Specialist for the Girl Scouts. She has owned and published the *Ebon Courier* and holds leadership positions on the Board of Directors for Community Health Services Union County (since 2014) and on the Board of the National Black Caucus\u2011Local Elected Officials (since 2015) [13].\n\nAnthony\u2019s education includes an Associate\u2019s degree in Christian Studies from Sure Foundation and Theological Institute, a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Sociology from Pfeiffer University, and a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Central Piedmont Community College [13][17].\n\nDuring her time on the council, Anthony has championed environmental and growth\u2011management initiatives. She has advocated for banning single\u2011use plastic bags in favor of biodegradable alternatives, a self\u2011imposed moratorium on new residential development to assess impacts on infrastructure and emergency services, and the addition of mental\u2011health professionals to the Monroe Police Department. She also supports completing a new traffic study and exploring public\u2011transport options for the city [18].\n\nAnthony emphasizes community engagement, proposing quarterly round\u2011table meetings to give residents direct access to council members and to discuss ongoing projects. She frames herself as a public servant rather than a career politician, noting her self\u2011imposed term limits and her desire to keep public service rooted in local concerns [18].\n\nIf elected mayor, Anthony would bring over a decade of council experience, a record of community\u2011focused initiatives, and a background in public safety and youth mentorship to the city\u2019s executive leadership.\n\n## Sources\n- [13] [Surluta Anthony - City Councilwoman at City of Monroe, NC | The Org](https://theorg.com/org/city-of-monroe-nc/org-chart/surluta-anthony)\n- [16] [Union County candidates emerge in the 2026 election | Ucweekly | thecharlotteweekly.com](https://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/ucweekly/union-county-candidates-emerge-in-the-2026-election/article_2a5c8643-aa03-4c28-aa3a-f72b93e909f5.html)\n- [17] [Surluta Anthony Email & Phone Number | City of Monroe, NC City Councilwoman Contact Information](https://rocketreach.co/surluta-anthony-email_197312971)\n- [18] [Anthony running for third, final term on council | Enquirer Journal | enquirerjournal.com](https://enquirerjournal.com/enquirer_journal/anthony-running-for-third-final-term-on-council/article_dc0dc367-0b0b-5188-ae19-0a1c983faab8.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"monroe_city_mayor","county":"union","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"City Of Monroe Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Surluta","fullname":"Surluta B Anthony","lastname":"Anthony","middlename":"B","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"monroe_city_mayor","contest_title":"City Of Monroe Mayor","county":"union","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"union","office_key":"city_mayor","office_title":"Mayor","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"union","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"monroe_city_mayor","contest_title":"City Of Monroe Mayor","county":"union","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"union","office_key":"city_mayor","office_title":"Mayor","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"city_mayor","office_title":"Mayor","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic candidate Surluta B. Anthony, a longtime Monroe City Council member and mayor pro tem, is running for mayor in the 2026 election.","terms":[],"token":"48553533640d5d4f"}