"As Lexington's new economic development director, Joe Kelly knows what's good for Central Kentucky is good for Lexington — not just the other way around. Regionalism, not provincialism, will be one of the top priorities for the once-retired former Columbia Gas of Kentucky president.
"(We need to) come to an understanding of how we can work more closely together with the surrounding communities. This regional thing has to be a part of the equation," Kelly told Business Lexington following the late December announcement of his appointment to the position in Mayor Jim Newberry's office.
As an example, when asked about the process to relocate the Blue Grass Stockyard, whose revenues bring close to $200 million a year into the Fayette County coffers, Kelly stressed keeping it close to town, not necessarily in town; the benefit to the cattle farmers in the region outweighed the benefit of the Fayette County tax base.
One of his first duties in office, Kelly said, would be to "bring folks together to take a look at how we're doing economic development."
Kelly is no stranger to economic development or bringing people together, according to Commerce Lexington President Bob Quick. "He knows the industry, he knows economic development, he knows the insides and outsides of it," Quick said of Kelly, who joined Columbia Gas in 1986 to work on economic development and governmental relations. "It seemed like a pretty natural selection for Jim Newberry and a pretty obvious one from the standpoint of someone that, if you were the mayor, you'd want to have in that role."
In 2006, Kelly served as Chairman of Commerce Lexington and worked closely not only with Quick but others in the Lexington and the Central Kentucky business community, which Quick said should serve well as the Newberry administration gets its feet on the ground.
"He's a known person to us, we to him, so that helps our whole relationship with Mayor Newberry get off to an even better start," Quick said. "So we can all keep running instead of having to going back, educating ourselves and getting to know each other if it was a new face the mayor had put in there, someone we weren't familiar with."
The familiarity Quick said he and Commerce Lexington share with Kelly and his new boss, the mayor, will help cut through the tape and allow them to skip the beating-around-the-bush, which is often required when trying to build a working relationship with someone new.
"We all know the issues. We don't have to tease ourselves or kid ourselves about our challenges or the opportunities out there; we can just roll up our sleeves and get it done," Quick said.
When Kelly talked to Business Lexington in early August to announce his retirement from Columbia Gas, where he served as president since 2003, he left the door open to get away from his retirement to work in public service. "I want to try to stay involved in the civic arena if at all possible. If there's an opportunity out there that's a win-win, I'll certainly be interested in considering that," he said in August.
When asked about his brief stint as a retired person, Kelly joked, "This retirement thing is just not going the way I had intended."
But Kelly's mid-summer announcement was seen as an opportunity Newberry wouldn't let himself pass up.
"This summer I heard he was retiring, and all of the sudden, bells and whistles started going off and smoke started coming out of my ears," Newberry said during his press conference to introduce his cabinet and office staff. "I couldn't wait for the opportunity to get Joe on the phone and say 'Joe I've got a couple of projects I'd like to get you involved in.'"
After being part of a group who pushed Newberry to "make personal sacrifices" in running against first-term Mayor Teresa Isaac, Kelly said it was near impossible not to do the same for his old friend Newberry when he asked for favors in return.
After helping with the campaign, Kelly served as the chairman of Newberry's transition team, charged with finding the dozen or so people the mayor can appoint.
"I had no idea I would be involved in the transition process, certainly had no idea that I would be standing here," Kelly said. "(But) when he said 'now I need your help,' it's hard to say no."
Newberry said having Kelly serve as transition chair wasn't part of a premeditated plan to get him to take the economic development job, but he's glad it worked out that way. "I can't tell you how delighted I ameconomic development is going to be a critical emphasis for this administration," Newberry said.
With the added focus on economic development this administration is vowing to undertake, Quick said despite Kelly's loyalties to the mayor and others in the business community, he will serve as a strong, independent voice.
"Joe is not someone who is going to do what he thinks the prevailing wind is. Joe's going to do what he thinks is right," Quick said.
Nor is Quick surprised Kelly is back to work full time less than six months after retiring from his rigorous job with Columbia Gas.
"Joe's not the type of person that is going to retire and sit back and do little," Quick said. "What I know of Joe is that he is always on the go. He's been two or three steps ahead of different folks, especially in the areas of education and economic development, trying to either help communities or help programs. For Joe to take a step out of retirement, I'm just surprised it took this long."
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