I’ve been a Haw Creek Association board member for 10 years with Chris Pelly in the Haw Creek Homeowners Association. Pelly embodies leadership, a must for City Council. He takes on issues and tasks, follows through with discussions and phone calls. He pulls the group together — and not just our neighborhood. Pelly can pull our city together.
I believe in him. I was sick in 2008. Our community wanted sidewalks. He did the homework, got information to us, and people from all over the city and county banded together. I participated in the Walk for Sidewalks rally, after just regaining my ability to walk again. The publicity from those actions led to sidewalk construction.
Pelly realized that areas needed sidewalks. He and the Sidewalk Initiative organized meetings with the Department of Transportation. The DOT respected what he brought to the meeting. Pelly brought the DOT’s own laws and rules to the meeting and asked why U.S. Highway 70’s dangerous areas couldn’t have sidewalks (Pelly’s research showed it was possible). The DOT is not in the sidewalk business, but things happened when Chris and other leaders got us more sidewalk commitments. Much needed sidewalks are being built.
He is not just about sidewalks. Pelly has the ability to diplomatically work with agencies, hear concerns to pull people together and make things happen. He’s Ashville City Council’s next “mover and shaker.”
Join the team. He’ll amaze you. Pelly won’t be on City Council unless voters get registered, get off the couch and change what needs to be changed. Chris Pelly is our liason and leader. He is a priority for today’s world.
— Vickie Gaddy
Asheville
