Kelty Campaign Headquarters Christened.

Open House Gala at the Lincoln Tower Signals Beginning of 2007 Mayoral Campaign

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- With the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon, Matt Kelty today opened his Kelty for Mayor 2007 Campaign Headquarters and the 2007 Fort Wayne Mayor's race. Located at 116 East Berry Street, on the 8th Floor of the Lincoln Tower, the Campaign hosted an open house with snacks and drinks, with over 100 supporters stopping by during the course of the evening. The Campaign offices, donated by Tippmann Properties, who manages the Lincoln Towers, have been equipped with in-kind donations by local businessman and manned by Kelty for Mayor Volunteers for the last few weeks.

"I chose the Lincoln Tower as my campaign headquarters because it has always stood for hope and prosperity," said Matt Kelty. "Just as the construction of this beautiful building brought hope to our city in the midst of The Great Depression, it is my ambition as Mayor to bring hope once again to the city of Fort Wayne."

Since announcing his candidacy a month ago, Kelty has developed a platform focused on the issues of stimulating economic development and job growth in Fort Wayne, reducing City spending and lowering taxes, and creating a more growth-oriented environment for existing businesses to expand and new businesses to locate to the City by reducing government regulation. Kelty says he is committed to establishing a new economic legacy, transforming Fort Wayne to serve as the epicenter for economic development, growth and prosperity in the Northeast Indiana region.

"A measure of my success as Mayor will be an article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2010 with the headline, "Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Best Place in America to Own a Business," said Kelty. "The booming economy and low unemployment is fertile soil for growth. Now is not the time for incrementalism, but bold and decisive moves forward to create a new legacy for the City."

The prospect of the return of leadership, common-sense management, and fiscal responsibility to government is a recurring theme that has generated broad support in the Fort Wayne community. Kelty continues to meet with local officials, business and community leaders, and private citizens from across Fort Wayne to outline his plans for the City, and solicit ideas and feedback to return greatness back to Fort Wayne.

About the Kelty for Mayor 2007 Campaign

Matt Kelty, 42, is the President of Kelty Tappy Design, Inc., a commercial architectural and urban design firm located in downtown Fort Wayne in the Lincoln Tower. A 1988 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Matt has also served as both the Indiana State Director of the International Masonry Institute (IMI), and as its Deputy National Director (Marketing/Technical Services), traveling extensively in the United States lecturing to architects across the country. Matt has also served as the President of the American Institute of Architects and of the Construction Specifications Institute chapters in Fort Wayne. In 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Kelty to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency for Architects and Landscape Architects.

Kelty was selected by Congressman Dan Coats for the Congressional Student Program and later served as a U.S. Senate Joint-Staff Regional Director for both Indiana U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Coats. Kelty enjoys a long history organizing and executing initiatives, political and civic. In the General Elections of 2002, Kelty ran against 2-term Fort Wayne Mayor and 5-term incumbent Indiana State Representative Winfield Moses to represent the 81st District losing by only 63 votes.

Kelty spearheaded and organized the massive pro-U.S. "Rally for America" held in Auburn, IN, and "Operation Recreation" in Fort Wayne, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to collect over 11 tons of recreational equipment to send to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Matt has been married to the former Tami Thomas of Kendallville, IN for 16 years and is the father of four children, Lauren (15), John (11), Allison (11) and David (9). Additional information about the Kelty for Mayor 2007 Campaign can be found at http://www.mattkelty.com.

Copyright Kelty for Mayor 2007 [c] Tom Blee, Honorary Chairman., Bill Bandor, Treasurer