ɐ tˈiːtʃɚ baɪ pɹəfˈɛʃən, skˈɛli wʌz fˈɜːst ᵻlˈɛktᵻd æz ðə nˈuː dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk pˈɑːɹɾi mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌv pˈɑːɹləmənt fɔːɹ kəmˈɑːks—pˈaʊɛl ɹˈɪvɚɹ ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn fˈɛdɚɹəl ᵻlˈɛkʃən.
A teacher by profession, Skelly was first elected as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Comox—Powell River in the 1979 federal election.