Councilman will not seek re-election
–Atascadero City Councilman Bob Kelly has announced that he will not seek re-election for his seat on the council. He released the following statement in regards to his decision:
After careful consideration I have decided not to run for another term for the Atascadero City Council. I have served the city for some 16 years which included 7 1/2 years on the planning commission. I have had a mostly fulfilling experience trying to support the citizens and businesses in Atascadero.
Councilman Bob Kelley.
I was instrumental in bringing the Marriott Hotel to town which has been a great addition to Atascadero. I’m proud to say that I consistently voted no for all tax and fee increases as I think that government, like the rest of us, needs to live within their means. One of my goals when first elected was to improve the quality of service within the Community Development Department. I’m proud to say that Atascadero may now have the friendliest and most efficient Community Development Department in the county.
My other goal was to monitor the finances of the city. To that, and after being on the council for 8 years, the city is still operating using reserves. In my opinion I have concerns regarding this and for the financial future of Atascadero. It’s time to move on and let others bring new ideas and concepts to the city, change is good. These are changing times for all of us and we need to support progressive thinkers to plan for the future. I encourage those who want to be involved to get pro actively involved, run for office it’s a great experience. I thank those who have supported my efforts and respect those that had opposing views. I wish the best for the future of Atascadero.
