Preston Blakely

Preston is the mayor of Fletcher, North Carolina and a manager at Quality Janitorial Group, the family-owned-and-operated company started by his parents in 1990.

As the state’s youngest serving mayor, Preston Blakely embodies the spirit of both progress and family values instilled in him as a lifelong resident of Fletcher, North Carolina.

Prior to winning Fletcher’s 2021 mayoral race, Preston served as the town’s District 2 councilmember, and he currently works as a manager for Quality Janitorial Group, founded by his parents and serving Western North Carolina residents since 1990.

Before securing his master’s degree in public affairs from Western Carolina University, Preston earned his bachelor’s degree in both political science and African American diaspora studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During his time at WCU, Preston served as a graduate assistant in the Public Policy Institute, creating performance metrics for the City of Hendersonville’s Public Works Department and earning the accolade of Outstanding Public Affairs Student in Public Management upon graduation.

Preston, now 28, serves currently on the board of directors for Thrive, a nonprofit committed to assisting individuals experiencing mental health and housing instability, in Henderson County. He also serves on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina and on the executive committee at Land of Sky Regional Council.

Expertise: public policy; planning; development; public management; small business; mental health; housing; housing stability; racial disparities

Please direct media inquiries for Preston Blakely to info@yourwinningmargins.com.

High-resolution headshot available for download here: Andrew Aydin.

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