Candidate Profile: Kelly Walsh For Decatur City Commission

DECATUR — This Nov. 2 municipal election in Decatur will fill seats for city commissioner and board of education. Two seats will be contested. Check out our 2021 Decatur voter guide for information on deadlines, candidates and where to vote.

City Commission

District 1, Post A: Kelly Walsh (Incumbent), Katie Bell
District 2, Post A: Patti Garrett

School Board

District 1, Post A: Hans Utz
At-large: Jana Johnson-Davis
District 2, Post A: Carmen Sulton, Dan Baskerville

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Incumbent Kelly Walsh is running for City Council against Katie Bell.

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Position Sought

City Commission, District 1

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan Race

Family

Patrick spouseI, 2 kids, 1 dog

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I currently serve as the District 1 City Commissioner for the City of Decatur, GA

Education

BS in Foreign Service, 1992, Georgetown University, MBA - Thunderbird School of Int'l Mgt

Occupation

Residential Realtor, 10 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

City of Decatur Commissioner, District 1, 2018-present

Campaign website

www.votekellywalsh.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I love Decatur and I believe in our city. We have a special thing going on here with a high quality of life because of our unique walkability, a welcoming attitude and inclusive culture, and a well run city that plans for the future.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our city will continue to experience strong population growth and must manage the challenges that come with that while maintaining a high quality of life and service delivery for all residents. We must ensure equitable outcomes while we adapt to a warming climate, transportation needs, and growth in our schools.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

Short term I want to accelerate us out of the pandemic by maintaining low infection rates and supporting our businesses with everything they need to stay viable and positioned for growth. Longer term I plan for us to grow our city in a way that is smart, resilient, and equitable for all those who want to live, work, play, worship or study here.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Experience. Integrity. Commitment. Follow-through. Collaboration. Results.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

NA

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Our response with a mask mandate in July 2020 until now has been the lynchpin of our city's response. Our COVID infection rates are some of the lowest in the state and possibly the nation. We put over $1 million in emergency relief into our small businesses and non-profits within just a couple of months after everything shut down and we continue to find ways to support residents and businesses with a conservative approach that has kept us all safe. As an elected body we have led by example with masks and vaccine messaging and have demonstrated our commitment to making good choices and sacrifices while asking residents to do the same.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My top three issues to tackle in my second term include traffic calming, finalizing the clean energy plan and executing on it, and affordable housing initiatives that will start to stem the tide of our loss of diversity in our community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

With nearly 100 meetings under my belt since taking office - and I haven't missed one - I feel qualified and experienced to continue to tackle the hardest issues that will come before our elected body. This is a team sport and a relay race. I collaborate with my colleagues and use the resources around me to make holistic decisions that have a laser focus on creating the best outcomes for the most people with every decision. Our city is very healthy financially and physically. We must move quickly into working our most recently updated strategic plan and staying disciplined in that approach.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

I take pride in living in a city that has a highly engaged citizenry, full of expertise and ready to engage to problem solve and fix things together. We are welcoming and inclusive and anyone can feel at home here. Our residents always strive to do better and be better and I really love being part of that.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never say "that's not my job". To me that means - get in the mix, roll your sleeves up, and do whatever it takes without passing the responsibility, if you are needed. I'm willing to do what is necessary to keep the lights on, the doors open, and the grass cut so our city is a great place to live. The work of running a city is much larger than I am so I need to do my part whatever that might be.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

This is a non-partisan race, a team sport, and a relay. I'm here to finish things started before I came, get many things accomplished during my time, but be willing to pass the baton to the next leader ready to take up the challenge when I leave. I will leave Decatur better than I found it by always listening first, and collaborating across our city's diverse interest groups to get the most impact.