In August of 2009, Naval Air Station Fallon brought on new Top Gun Instructor, Neil Kelly. He and his wife Kelli traded San Diego for Fallon and have been here ever since. Since then, they have retired and become deeply involved in the community. So involved, in fact, the Kelli has thrown her hat in the ring for the office Churchill County Commissioner.
With both Kelli and Neil originally hailing from tight-knit mid-western communities, they developed a fondness for block parties, close neighbors, and connections with those around them. Upon settling in Fallon, they quickly became immersed in its hometown culture.
While Neil pursued his career on the Naval Base, Kelly decided to put her culinary art degree to work at The Slanted Porch as a sous chef. Having graduated from the Art Institute of California, she was a perfect fit for the highly rated eatery. According to Kelly, it was during her time there that she found her passion for locally cultivated foods and the growers that produce them.
Kelly's time spent at the Slanted Porch also launched her into activities like working with the culinary arts program at Churchill County High School. "It's really important that every student graduates knowing how to cook 10 things," stated Kelly, "and it leads to better lifelong health patterns." She is also the executive director of the Fallon Food Hub which brings a strong focus to local agriculture producers. As part of her contribution to the community, Kelly donates her time to the Food Hub.
Other areas of involvement for Kelly include the Center Street Farmers Market, Nevada Grown Local Producers, WNC Specialty Crop Institute, and the Nevada Farms Conference. She also serves on the board for the Fallon Youth Club, the library, and is on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) advisory committee for the School District, "I've found all these ways to get involved," state Kelly, "I like making a difference."
Kelly, a registered democrat, is now officially running for the Churchill County Board of Commissioners. "I've always had an interest in local politics," Kelly explained. "This is the next logical step for me. It's a larger platform to make positive changes in the community as we grow over time."
Some areas of focus for the candidate include addressing some of the county's more critical issues like housing. "We need to be able to bring in more affordable housing," states Kelly. Fallon is experiencing a shortage of entry-level and multi-family housing. "Being able to buy a home," according to the candidate, "is the fastest way to ensure generational wealth and will lead to more secure economic health over time."
Another area on Kelly's radar is economic development. She believes the housing shortage has a detrimental effect on growth if there are no homes. "More growth doesn't have to just mean looking outside of the community," Kelly explained, "We also need to help locals increase their business." Workforce development is also an area Kelly would like to see supported. Having the CTE programs in place is helping students graduate with training certificates in hand, according to Kelly. With a skilled workforce available, Fallon is more likely to see companies bring their businesses to the area.
Kelly hopes that party affiliation doesn't play a major role at the polls. "For me, I see this position as community-driven, not politically driven." As a strong believer in diversity, Kelly finds value in people seeing the world differently, "you can approach an issue with a variety of perspectives," Kelly explained. "Let's focus on what we can do together."
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