ORIENTAL – Sally Truitt Belangia understands the importance of dreams. After all, she has worked her entire life to make her dreams come true. Belangia, grew up in the charming coastal community of Oriental, NC. Her parents and grandparents are all from Oriental and made their living in the town as well.

If You can Dream it, You can Achieve It…Just Ask Oriental’s New Mayor - University of Mount Olive

A little more than fifty years later, that dream came true on December 1, when Belangia was sworn in as mayor of the sailing capital of North Carolina. Being mayor is just one of the dreams that Belangia has achieved that she is proud of; she is equally gratified for achieving her college degree from the University of Mount Olive (UMO) at New Bern. Her bachelor of science degree in business administration was the catalyst that set her career on course for the success that she has achieved over the past 20 years in the banking industry.

In 2011 Belangia continued her educational pursuits and earned her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Organizational Management. She now holds the title of vice president and market executive for Pamlico County, with responsibilities for a branch in Bayboro as well as the one in Oriental.

Sally Truitt Belangia grew up in Oriental, North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Mount Olive at New Bern and a master's degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

If You can Dream it, You can Achieve It…Just Ask Oriental's New ...

In 1979 Belangia graduated from Pamlico Community College (PCC) and got a job at First Citizens Bank in Pamlico County. For years she applied to be a branch manager at Oriental and was always over looked.

So, in December of 1993, she enrolled in the very first Management and Organizational Development cohort at UMO at New Bern. She graduated a year later, and she was promoted to loan officer at the Bayboro Branch of First Citizens Bank. In 1997, the position she had been waiting for finally opened and Belangia was offered and accepted the position of branch manager of First Citizens in her hometown of Oriental.

In 2011 Belangia continued her educational pursuits and earned her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Organizational Management. She now holds the title of vice president and market executive for Pamlico County, with responsibilities for a branch in Bayboro as well as the one in Oriental. This year marks Belangia’s 36 th employment anniversary with First Citizens Bank.

Sally Truitt Belangia worked at First Citizens Bank in Pamlico County, where she became a loan officer at its Bayboro branch and branch manager in Oriental. She held the title of vice president and market executive for Pamlico County, with responsibilities for branches in Bayboro and Oriental.

CURRENT BOARD:

Sally Belangia, Mayor
Check Signing
(252) 671-9288 (Cell)
SallyBelangia@townoforiental.com

Term expires 12/2026

Mayor and Town Board of Commissioners Contacts

The race for Oriental mayor is a one-woman show this year. Sally Truitt Belangia, manager of the First Citizens Bank is the only candidate in the running for Oriental mayor. This bid to be mayor of the town where she grew up is her first foray in to elected office. She would be Oriental’s first woman mayor.

2015 Candidates Respond To Questions

Sally currently serves as mayor of Oriental. Her bid for mayor was her first run for elected office.

Mayor & Board - Oriental, North Carolina

Lucille Styron Truitt Artwork Retrospective - Events In Oriental, NC

Sally currently serves as mayor of Oriental.

2026 North Carolina General Election

9. Should Oriental do anything differently to encourage more tourists to visit? If so, what? Yes, we should always encourage tourism. I personally love welcoming people to Oriental and we have so many events I think we need to make a plan on how to market what we have. The tourism board works hard to make this happen.

Supports encouraging tourism through a plan to market Oriental's events.

- Supports encouraging tourism through a plan to market Oriental's events.

Economy

10. The ends of several streets in Oriental provide public access to the water. What’s your position on preserving the rights-of-way for public use at Wall, King, Neuse, Hodges and Church Streets? Yes to preserving the rights-of-way for public use.

Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): I am for evening meetings.

Meet the 2023 Oriental Town Board Candidates

Supports preserving public rights-of-way that provide access to the water.

- Supports preserving public rights-of-way that provide access to the water.
- Supports holding evening town meetings.

Public Services

Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): I love Oriental. I am a native of Oriental and I love all the people that live in our town along with our businesses. I have seen the Town of Oriental change during my lifetime through land development and along with many new residents moving in. I think we have done a good job of growing our town. We must make sure that we continue.

Meet the 2017 Oriental Town Candidates

Supports continued growth in Oriental as the town develops and gains residents.

- Supports continued growth in Oriental as the town develops and gains residents.

Housing & Urban Development

As of September 2, 2026, Sally Truitt Belangia did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

7. The proposed bike pathway between the two parts of Oriental has been in the planning stages for years. Can it be accomplished? What would you do to cut thru the impasse? Yes, we must get the bike pathway done. Yes the town should help the committee with getting grants, etc.

Sally Belangia (Candidate for Mayor): The Mayor and all the commissioners are Volunteers! I think it is great that we have citizens in our area that want to volunteer to help us with our roads with their ideas and suggestions. Roads are definitely a priority.

Calls for completing the bike pathway between the two parts of Oriental and having the town help the committee seek grants.

Prioritizes roads and welcomes residents' ideas and suggestions on road improvements.

- Calls for completing the bike pathway between the two parts of Oriental and having the town help the committee seek grants.
- Prioritizes roads and welcomes residents' ideas and suggestions on road improvements.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Sally Truitt Belangia

As of September 2, 2026, Sally Truitt Belangia’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sahid Burgos

Walter Ley

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor attends and runs City Council meetings, serving as an important leader for how local laws get set. These laws affect local services, such as Police, City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation.  
- The Mayor in some circumstances may vote to break a tie in council meetings. They do not have veto power.