47 ABC sits down with SBY Councilwoman-Elect Michele Gregory

SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury City Council will return the same cast of characters for the next four years, except for one new face. District Four Councilwoman-elect Michele Gregory. Gregory is set to take over the seat previously held by Councilman Jim Ireton who decided not to run for re-election.

Gregory beat her challenger Jonathan Taylor by a final count of 439 to 104. A significant margin that she says she’s humbled by.

“I’m hoping that everybody continues to believe in me and my ability to get the job done and get things done for the people in the city.

One of the things she wants to get done is to help address the issue of affordable housing. Gregory says she plans to do that by getting Salisbury involved in things like the family self-sufficiency program, a program offered through the department of housing and urban development.

“What it does is it provides funds for the city to set up a program for families to participate in, its a 5-year program, we could start a pilot program at first,” Gregory said.

The program would allow families on government housing to put money towards their first home purchase. Therefore freeing up housing for other families that need it. It’s also an issue that’s close to her heart because Gregory says she’s always fought for the small guy.

“I was always fighting for the underdog growing up that’s always been something for me and that is something I will continue to do on the city council,” Gregory said.

Other issues that are on Gregory’s radar include the construction downtown, but she says people generally understand that the headaches will be worth it in the long run.

“I know it’s frustrating, I get frustrated too when I forget that oh shoot this whole section of downtown is closed off I can’t go through there, but it’s a slight inconvenience now but it’ll be well worth it once it is finished,” Gregory said.