By Marcy Hege

Keith Weatherly

Keith Weatherly
It was a difficult task to actually talk to Keith Weatherly, Apex’s mayor, during the month of October. An explosion at a hazardous waste collection business kept the Mayor, the town’s staff and many of its residents from getting much sleep the first week of the month. As Apex’s mayor, he stayed awake and involved with local emergency responders and the media to keep his town’s residents out of harm’s way and informed of the latest news on the EQ explosion and its effects. What kind of person can handle that type of volunteer work?

Born in Kingstree, South Carolina, he moved with his parents to Newton, North Carolina when he was eight. Weatherly was active in various community activities and sports during his school years. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill and earned his degree in political science.

His first job after college was on Jessie Helms’ campaign staff and he joined the Senator’s staff working in constituent services. In 1981, he joined the staff of the U. S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, eventually becoming the committee’s Chief of Staff.

In 1987, Weatherly moved to Apex and continued working with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. It didn’t take long for him to become involved with the Homeowners’ Association at Shepherd’s Vineyard. His involvement there paved the way for an appointment to the Apex Planning Board. Friends encouraged him to run for Town Council and in 1993, he led the election’s ticket. Serving on Apex’s Town Council, he is now in his third four-year term as mayor.

Weatherly noted he has three full plates in his life: his family, his career and his civic involvement. He appears to be an expert juggler with these roles. We were able to combine the interview for this article with his shift in the Apex Sports Authority’s concession stand during a Saturday morning Pop Warner football game where son Ethan was playing. His wife, Melissa, was on the other side of the county at a fast-pitch softball tournament where daughter Samantha was playing. Another daughter, Leigh Anne, teaches middle school in Cary.

In his professional life, Weatherly is the State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in North Carolina. He oversees 400 employees in 77 local offices throughout the state. The FSA has a broad mission, administering disaster assistance, crop assistance, loans and conservation programs. The job requires constant travel but Weatherly notes he relies on his office staff to keep him going in the right direction.

Keith Weatherly volunteers with the Apex Sports Authority during a Pop Warner football game.

Along with his duties as Apex mayor, Weatherly is also a member of the Centennial Authority that oversees the RBC Center. Other appointments include membership on the Transportation Advisory Commission and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

His favorite pastimes are “anything outdoors.” The typical family vacation is a trip to Fontana Lake in western North Carolina. He loves camping but is too busy to get out in the woods often. Weatherly is a fly fisherman who even ties his own flies. As a member of the Durham County Wildlife Club, he enjoys turkey hunting and is a bow hunter.

Weatherly has always thought about public service, even as a child. Here is a man who is doing exactly what he dreamed about as a child. His hero is his father, a former North Carolina legislator. Weatherly’s father was also involved in public service and steered Keith to involvement with the Boy Scouts and civic activities.

If you want to get Weatherly talking non-stop, just ask about Apex. The town couldn’t hire any better spokesman for any amount of money. The Apex Mayor’s passion is obvious as he discusses the redevelopment of the downtown area and the renovation of the former Town Hall as a cultural center. The town has the highest development standards in the state so it is unlikely there will ever be any businesses similar to EQ setting up shop within the town’s limits.