Former Salisbury Mayor and current Salisbury City Council member Susan Kluttz has resigned her post on the Salisbury City Council.  The announcement was made Thursday by Mayor Paul Woodson during the Salisbury City Council meeting.   Kluttz, Salisbury’s longest-serving mayor, has been tapped by Gov.-elect Pat McCrory to serve in his state cabinet.

Salisbury City Council has chosen local architect Karen Alexander to replace Kluttz.

According to a Salisbury Post report, City Council members revealed they have been discussing Kluttz’s presumed departure for weeks, as well as candidates for her possible replacement.

The Post says Council members did not meet as a group, which would have violated state law. Mayor Paul Woodson said he has been in contact with council members individually to discuss the issue and personally interviewed three finalists — Alexander, former City Council member Mark Lewis and Rip Kersey, runner-up in the 2011 election.

Woodson said Alexander’s knowledge and experience as chairwoman of the Salisbury Planning Board and the way she handled a controversy over a new Waffle House restaurant gave her the edge.  He also said he wanted to appoint another woman to the City Council, and that other council members also preferred a woman.

Council also chose Maggie Blackwell, the third-highest vote-getter in the 2011 election, as the new mayor pro tem.