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 Kent Clark, who is running for a spot on the Campbell County Conservation District board:
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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.
My name is Kent Clark. I moved to Gillette in 1985 when I went to work for the City of Gillette as a police officer. I worked for the Police Department for 20 years then I went to work for the City of Gillette Parks in the Public Works Department. I held a few different positions in Public Works including Parks Operator, Crew Leader, Parks Division Supervisor, Public Works Operations Manager and Streets Division Manager. During this time I was able to work with many various County departments, crews and staff to coordinate our efforts and share resources.
2. What prompted your decision to run for the conservation board? What do you see as your role on the board?
I have always enjoyed their educational resources and have used them to learn things both professionally and personally. I want to support this important board and the local office staff as well as become involved in the work they do. I know I have a lot to learn and plan to dig in and help wherever I am needed most.
3. How do you plan to help your constituents through your role on the board? Please address rural and urban residents, energy and business development stakeholders, and ranchers.
My first job will be gaining a better understanding of all the programs, resources and educational information that the Conservation District has for each group. I intend to help our local Conservation District and the staff meet their current goals and plans. I will also bring forward any concerns, requests and needs that any of the above constituents have for us.
4. What do you think Campbell County’s biggest environmental and water quality challenges are? What should the board’s priorities be?
During my time in the City Public Works Department, my crews were tasked with cleaning and maintaining the stormwater system. We saw firsthand what ended up washing downstream sometimes before we could intercept it and remove it. Prevention is so much better than cleanup. Our surface water resources like the local creeks and bodies of water are tested by our local Conservation District Office Staff. This testing should continue as well as the educational efforts to help our businesses, land and homeowners to identify and reduce the inflow of contaminants and materials that harmfully impact the water quality. Helping people understand how whatever is allowed to run into our stormwater drainages has a large impact on our water quality downstream.
5. What would be the ideal relationship between the Bureau of Land Management and Campbell County?
This is an area that I would need to learn more about. I do think it is important for our community to have local representation and input to the BLM and other governing or regulatory agencies.
6. What’s one upcoming project the conservation district is planning to accomplish within the next few years that you think Campbell County residents should definitely know about? What’s your perspective on it?
Their Natural Resource Outreach and Education Goals
The information and technical assistance available to all of us through the Campbell County Conservation District and their partners is huge. So continuing to work with the school district, home and land owners, businesses and local officials will help direct people to the information and resources they need to help themselves take steps to preserve and improve the quality of our local natural resources.
7. Is there anything else should voters know about you?
I am thankful for where we live and for the opportunity to be a part of this community.
I plan to use my past work experiences to help this team and their staff continue the good work they are doing.
