Meet
Kelly
Kelly is a small business owner and has over 30 years of experience in real estate, and over four decades of experience in other businesses. He is especially proud of growing up in rural North Carolina; he spent much of his childhood and teen years on his grandparents’ farms.
Kelly is married, and he and his wife have one daughter. He graduated from Appalachian State University, and he received a graduate teaching certificate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Kelly believes in servant leadership, and he served in the United States Marine Corps and Reserves; he earned an Honorable Discharge.
He also worked for Congress where he specialized in veterans’ issues, and he served in the North Carolina General Assembly for 16 years.
Trustworthy and Accountable
Kelly consistently strives to ensure transparency and honesty in his communications in the public and private sectors including serving in the General Assembly, running a real estate business, or serving as a government relations consultant. As a senior N.C. House member and chairman and real estate professional, he significantly contributed to North Carolina's economic stability and public safety by fulfilling his commitments, safeguarding taxpayers, and treating constituents, clients, and customers with respect.
In the General Assembly, Kelly chaired the Finance, Transportation, Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs, Higher Education, Appropriations - Capital, and the UNC Board of Governors nominating committees. He also chaired other non-standing, interim, and study committees, and he served on many other committees, ranging from energy, utilities, and insurance to wetland and stream mitigation. He successfully served as the lead and primary sponsor of over 25 bills and resolutions that became law or passed, respectively. He also sponsored or co-sponsored many other bills and resolutions.
For his efforts in public safety, he received the Defender of Public Safety Award
from the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association.
Recognized for his support of national defense and first responders, Kelly
received the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal from the Adjutant
General of the North Carolina National Guard for leading the legislative changes that
enhance the selection criteria for the Adjutant General.
In real estate, Kelly successfully facilitated over 250 sales, lease, or exchange transactions.
He is still active in real estate and consulting.
