SALEM, Va. โ On Wednesday morning, the Salem City Council named its new mayor and for the first time in the cityโs history, itโs a woman.
After the newly elected members of council were sworn in, they nominated and selected Renee Turk as the new mayor.
Turk is no stranger to politics; her brother Ray Ferris was on Roanoke City Council for a number of years.
Nelson Harris is a former Roanoke mayor and local historian, most recently publishing a history of the Roanoke Valley during the 1940s.
He said Turk is not only making Salem history, sheโs making regional history as both Vinton and Roanoke City have never had female mayors.