Carol Pritchett named mayor of Lake Lure

The Lake Lure Town Council unanimously passed a resolution appointing Carol C. Pritchett as mayor Wednesday.

Pritchett will complete former Mayor Kevin Cooley’s unexpired term, following his untimely passing May 15. As the only candidate to file for mayor in the 2019 municipal elections this November, Pritchett will continue to serve for the next term, which begins in December.

Pritchett was sworn into office during a recent Town Council meeting, and the appointment became effective Aug. 14. 

Following the passing of the resolution, Pritchett thanked Town Council and Mayor Pro Tem John Moore for her appointment and for their service to the town. She recognized the many accomplishments of Cooley during his tenure and said he was an incredible presence in the community.

Pritchett said Cooley's work will survive his passing and noted that everyone will profit from his efforts for a long time to come.

She added that she thought the community had a shared goal of preserving Lake Lure for future generations. She and her husband, Joe Pritchett, moved to Lake Lure from Houston, Texas in 2011. They built a home in Lake Lure to establish a gathering place for their family, including their two sons and their wives, and their five grandchildren.

“For the first time in a long time we have a good sense of the challenges that we are facing and the things that need to be done. I look forward to working with all of you in the future," Pritchett said.

“Carol C. Pritchett has vast experience and an outstanding track record of establishing operational excellence and driving profitable, sustainable, revenue growth, while championing optimal outcomes," Moore said. "She has 17-plus years of experience managing national organizations with annual revenue in excess of $300M and more than 70 separate facilities in 13 states across the country. She is a results-driven, transparent and inclusive leader who will serve Lake Lure well.

"Lake Lure is fortunate to have Carol Pritchett as mayor, as she will help the town expand the current positive trajectory and help us address the infrastructure challenges we face, while building upon the exceptional beauty that surrounds Lake Lure.”

Pritchett founded Coulter Consulting LLC in Asheville and served as president from 2014 until the present. Her company contracted with standalone health care facilities and oversaw their operations, including the establishment of strategic plans, policy development, training and successful certifications.

She served as the senior vice president of Encore Healthcare Corp in Columbia, Maryland from 2011-14 and as a regional vice president of operations with Life Care Centers of America Inc. in Houston until 2011.