GILLETTE, Wyo. — Nathan McLeland and Pat Collins have won their primary election bids to appear on the ballot later this fall as candidates for the Gillette City Council representing Ward Three, according to the Campbell County Elections Office.
McLeland and Collins were the only two to file to represent Ward Three in this primary election, receiving a combined total of 1,747 votes. McLeland received 1,108 votes, with 590 in-person votes and 518 absentee votes. Collins received 635 votes with 364 in-person votes and 271 absentee votes.
McLeland
A Gillette native and trained lawyer, McLeland is currently serving on the Gillette City Council representing Ward Three. He says he is seeking another term because he enjoys serving his community and feels he is a proven leader who can keep the community moving forward.
McLeland has years of experience serving on public boards in addition to experience as a business leader overseeing M & K Oil Company. He wants to put his knowledge and experience to work for the residents of Ward Three, he says.
In his responses to candidate questions sent by County 17, McLeland expressed a desire to get the city back to working together to build a place that is positive to live and raise families in. He says cooperation is going to be key, and it is something that previous leaders understood well.
Should he win his general election bid this fall, McLeland intends to focus on ensuring the community has a thriving economy, which will be driven by supporting the mineral industry and by leveraging resources to expand existing businesses and attract new ones.
“Gillette has a lot to offer, and we need to ensure people know Gillette is a place where business and industry will succeed and that this is a great community in which to live and raise families,” McLeland previously told County 17.
Collins
South Dakota–born and raised, Collins is an active member of her church and is currently serving in two ministries. She said she decided to run for a seat on the Gillette City Council to reign in unnecessary spending and to realign the Optional 1% to cover road maintenance and water development efforts.
In her responses to candidate questions posed by County 17, Collins said she would like to see large-scale projects put on the ballot for the voters to decide on.
Should she win her bid during the general election this fall, Collins said she would encourage more research to accomplish her goal of being fiscally conservative. She says projects have taken priority over the basic needs of the people and the council must put the needs of Gillette before the wants.
According to her responses, Collins says she plans to address a lack in road maintenance by reducing vanity projects to fund repairs. She also plans to address and repeal the hate crimes ordinance, which she feels is unconstitutional.
