When Michael McLaurin talks about community, he does so with the clarity of someone who has lived it for fifty years. A North Carolina native whose public-service roots stretch back through generations, McLaurin is part of a rare lineage of leaders who have shaped cities across the state through steady hands, open hearts, and absolute commitment.
When asked what community means to him, McLaurin shared “Community means diversity… people coming together for a better quality of life.”
It’s the foundation of everything he has built over five decades. As he approaches retirement from the Town of Indian Trail, he hopes that people describe his work and the work of his organization in the simplest, most profound way possible:
“That we cared and that we served the public.”
McLaurin’s dedication to transparency has become part of his professional signature. The city he leads is, in his words, “one of the most transparent governments I’ve ever worked for.” Residents receive a manager’s report every two weeks, a monthly report, Facebook Live check-ins, and even “Coffee with the Mayor.” These personal, frequent, and accessible touchpoints close the distance between City Hall and everyday life.
To McLaurin, residents aren’t customers, they’re investors. Every tax dollar is a vote of confidence, and it’s the city’s responsibility to deliver an exceptional return through quality services, responsiveness, and compassion.
There’s poetry in McLaurin’s career arc: a lifetime of watching cities grow, listening to residents’ stories, learning from public servants around him, and giving his communities stability in times of change. His presence at ICMA, surrounded by rising leaders, feels like a baton pass. A moment where decades of wisdom quietly guide the next generation of city managers. McLaurin’s legacy is simple, powerful, and deeply human: service as love for community.
