A letter of Support from Dr. Bob Wald

As a lover of the Hickory Nut Gorge, I moved with my wife to Chimney Rock after retiring from medical practice.  I soon met Kathy Tanner and many Lake Lure residents.  I purchased property in Lake Lure and became increasingly involved in many aspects of local life.  I was elected to Chimney Rock Town Council, became Mayor Pro Tem, served as an advisor to Chimney Rock State Park (which is actually in Lake Lure), and became president of the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department.  In 2013, I participated along with former Lake Lure Mayor Bob Keith,  in the NCDOT Lake Lure and Chimney Rock traffic study and the gorge branding and marketing study.

I was fortunate enough to become friends with Kathy Tanner along the way.  It was immediately apparent that Kathy was extremely energetic, forward thinking,  compassionate, and a true leader.  She was able to conceive and pursue unique and imaginative ideas, listen to and respect the ideas of others, and expect excellence from her associates and most specifically, herself.  She worked tirelessly for the benefit of her projects and her much loved town of Lake Lure.  I know and recognize virtue and value in my fellow human beings.  Kathy Tanner truly exemplifies these values.  After practicing psychiatry for over thirty years I can say, without qualification, that Kathy would make an excellent, perhaps incredible, mayor.  

I encourage Lake Lure voters to write Kathy Tanner in as their choice for mayor.  I fully believe that she has the  capacity to bring all towns in the Hickory Nut Gorge together in a successful way to bring benefits, both economic and environmental, to all.

This letter of support was not solicited by the candidate or her campaign.