Kelly: Community Ties Won the Day

Doug Kelly didn’t started knocking on doors and putting up signs for his San Anselmo Town Council race until a few months ago.

But work he’s done as a member of the town’s Parks and Recreation Department and coaching Little League – activities that often go overlooked – helped him build the relationships around town that he believes helped him get elected.

Kelly was the apparent winner over Steve Burdo and Matt Brown in the race to replace appointee Liz Dahlgren for a two-year seat on the council.

Kelly garnered 39.1 percent of the vote to finish well ahead of Burdo and Brown with 30.2 and 30.3 percent respectively with all precincts reporting. An undetermined number of mail-in and provisional ballots remain outstanding.

Incumbents Kay Coleman (the current mayor) and Tom McInerney and Tamalpais Union High School District President John Wright ran unopposed for the three open four-year terms.

“I believe it was my close ties to the community,” Kelly said Tuesday night in a phone interview when asked what was he believed was the most decisive factor in his election victory.

“It was my friends who voted for me and I’m grateful to them.”

Kelly said he’ll bring the same approach to the council as he has to the Park and Recreation Department.

“I’m going to serve the community the way I have for the last eight years, by listening and by always telling the truth,” he said.

Kelly said he brought those qualities to his campaign.

“I worked very hard,” he said. “I knocked on many doors and I talked to many people so it’s a gratifying feeling and I’m honored and I’m humbled.”