Sylva mayor will not seek re-election; board member Moody files for mayor
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SYLVA–Brenda Oliver, mayor of Sylva for 17 years, will not run for re-election in November.
Oliver, who has served in leadership roles in Sylva for 28 years, made the announcement at last Thursday’s town board meeting.
Meanwhile, Maurice Moody, a Sylva native with over ten years’ experience on the town board, made official his candidacy for mayor when he filed for election on Monday.
Oliver, who is actively involved in state and national municipal organizations, has been widely considered a progressive influence in mountain municipal leadership.
Moody, who often provides the swing vote on the five member board, would lose that vote as mayor. If he were to win the election, the board would appoint his replacement. A Sylva native whose career took him to south Georgia, but who retired to Sylva, Moody has been active in his support of downtown revitalization and an advocate for younger citizens’ participation in government. He votes on the “progressive” side of many issues, but takes a conservative stance on land use planning issues.
His was one of three votes, for example, that scuttled plans for a high-density development off Yellowbird Branch last year.
Two seats on the town board are up for re-election, and four candidates have filed: incumbents Stacy Knotts and Harold Hensley, downtown merchant David Kelley and previous board member Danny Allen.
Tags: Brenda Oliver, municipal leadership, Sylva
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