Archie Pertiller Jr. wants cooperation, 'collaborative effort' for Board of Alderman seat

Black Mountain News will be doing profiles of all candidates for the three open Board of Aldermen seats.

BLACK MOUNTAIN - Archie Pertiller Jr.’s family knew he’d always have a home in Black Mountain.

Pertiller, a Black Mountain native, was recently appointed to fill Larry Harris’ open Board of Alderman seat following Don Collins’ decision to retire. He is one of nine candidates to file for November’s municipal election featuring three open board seats.

Now on the board, Pertiller is looking to be reelected. He says his appointment “really caught (him) off guard,” noting that public reaction had bothered him.

“My family even had to tell me ‘your shoulders are bigger than that,’” Pertiller said. “'You can deal with this, it’s OK.' I’m just trying to take it in stride and do what I need to do to be elected, which is what I want to be, by the community to serve this community.”

The co-owner and CEO of NCI Plus, a company specializing in behavioral management training, Pertiller ran for an alderman seat in 2011. After an unsuccessful bid, he says he decided to wait until he wasn’t working.

“I told myself, when I retired, that I was going to do it again because I would really like to give back to the community because it’s given me so much,” Pertiller said. “I felt it was time for me to give back, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it.”

Mayor Larry Harris supported Pertiller's appointment to the board.

"We were really proud and pleased to be able to appoint (Pertiller) to complete my term," Harris said. "We're thrilled to have him join us, and we look forward to working with him these next two or three months and hope to see him be elected in November."

Pertiller, who has lived in Black Mountain for all but 12 years of his life, added that family and friends supported and urged his decision to run.

With two board meetings before the Nov. 3 election, Pertiller said that his main focus is to reestablish cooperation and a “collaborative effort” among board members.

“The people on this board, they need to learn to work together,” Pertiller said. “Regardless of where you stand or what political party you’re affiliated with.” 

Despite public opinion, Pertiller said any discourse or disagreement among the board of his appointment is the “last thing (he) wanted.”

Transparency will be key to fulfilling his term, and into potential reelection, he said. Any additional information regarding his campaign and future statements can be found on his Facebook page.

And for the town he grew up in, Pertiller wants nothing more than his home to continue to grow.

“If they knew me and knew who I was and what I stood for, then they would know,” Pertiller said.