GILLETTE, Wyo. — Election season is well underway and County 17 has sent a list of questions to each candidate who has filed to run for office in contested races.
These questions are designed to give our readers a better understanding of the people behind the names on the ballot. All candidate responses submitted to County 17 are republished as they are received. County 17 solely made minor edits to the responses, for clarity. Minor edits may include correcting punctuation, capitalization or spelling.
Below, get to know Lucas Fralick, who is running for a spot on the Campbell County Cemetery District:
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- Please introduce yourself and describe your educational and employment history. Please include your name and hometown along with highlights of your past involvement in the Campbell County community.
Lucas Fralick, I am from Gillette, WY, and have lived here for much of my adult life. After earning a master’s degree in history from the University of Wyoming, I moved back to Gillette. Sometimes home is just home. I was appointed to the Campbell County Rockpile Museum Board in 2020 to finish an uncompleted term, and have served as Board Chairman since 2021. In addition, I volunteer and serve as Secretary to the Gillette Historical Preservation Commission.
2. What prompted your decision to run for cemetery board?
To be clear, I am not running against anyone in this race. I chose to run because I want to give a fresh perspective to the Cemetery Board. I applied for the recent vacancy, and, although I didn’t get the appointment; I think the board made a good choice. My interest in the Cemetery District remains the same, I am looking to revitalize the district’s historical interpretation to the community. The district is a very welcoming atmosphere, and it is a large reason why I was prompted to run.
3. What do you have to offer the community as a cemetery board member?
I am hoping to bring a younger and fresher perspective to the district. I understand the irony that I want to use history to engage the community. I want to use my historical knowledge and experience to establish a series of history programming in and around the district. Our cemeteries are an excellent window to our communities’ past, after all, and I want to share that with more people. Partnerships with other historical organizations have always been on the table, but I want to bring in new partners and create a bridge between those who like history and those interested in the people who helped make Gillette what is.
4. What is one decision the cemetery district board made since January that you agree with or disagree with? Please explain your perspective on the decision.
Again, I don’t want to run against the current board. I think the current district is on the right path. With community concerts, walks, facility rentals and effective funeral services, the district is functioning well. Although I see no issues with the way the district is being run, there is always opportunity to improve, and exploring new avenues is not a bad thing. Besides that, the district is very open to new ideas, in fact, I have been discussing possibilities with them, regarding history-related projects. Nothing is set now, but it is part of the welcoming atmosphere that prompted me to run in the first place.
5. What lessons did our community learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The biggest change I see since COVID-19 is an expansion in the digital realm. Programming and events have a new life as online experiences. However, I think, something is missing with digital programs and events, say the personal interaction. Online events do reach more people who otherwise would not be able to attend or see them. For those who can’t make it, online events are the next best thing. A part of the new perspective element of my campaign includes future discussions on the possibility of expanding the district’s online presence even further.
6. Is there anything else voters should know about you?
I want to thank people who stand up to run or volunteer to help make Campbell County a better place to live for everyone. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it. I think the Cemetery Board does a great job, but I hope voters will see the value in having different perspectives added to the mix occasionally. In any case, I am happy to have the opportunity to run and I am confident that whichever outcome the district will be in good hands.
