A letter of support from Former Mayor Pro Tem, Russ Pitts

As a former Mayor Pro Tem of the Town of Lake Lure, I know firsthand what our council-manager form of government asks of a mayor: the ability to run fair and respectful meetings, build consensus, communicate clearly, understand town finances, guide land use and planning decisions, and act with unwavering integrity.

I have known Kathy Tanner for more than a decade, and I have watched her demonstrate every one of these qualities and more through her volunteer work. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge and now chairs its Board of Directors, helping build it into an attraction that drew some 180,000 visitors a year.

When Helene destroyed the bridge, Kathy led the volunteer effort to rebuild its gardens from scratch. She has also worked alongside the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority to improve the visitor experience throughout the Hickory Nut Gorge. Kathy is a leader in every sense of the word.

As Lake Lure enters the next phase of recovery, strong community outreach and engagement from town leadership will be essential. Kathy has already shown us what that looks like. She rallied volunteers, raised support, and brought one of our most beloved landmarks back to life after the storm. She knows how to bring people together and get things done, and she is exactly the right person to lead our town forward.

I urge you to join me in writing in Kathy Tanner for Mayor of the Town of Lake Lure on Tuesday, November 3rd.  Please remember to write her name clearly in the write-in space for mayor.

Sincerely,
Russ Pitts, resident and former Mayor Pro Tem of Town of Lake Lure