As we approach election day, I want to thank the people of Lewis County for the opportunity to earn your trust and your vote.
From the beginning of my campaign, I made a commitment to stay focused on what matters to Lewis County. I’m proud to have kept that commitment, but it matters far more in how we lead after election day.
On Nov. 3, voters will choose who leads an agency our communities depend on every day, often during the most difficult moments of their lives. It is a tremendous responsibility, and one I do not take lightly.
My service in the Marine Corps and decades within the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office have taught me that leadership begins with service to others. I also know that no sheriff can do this job alone.
Our deputies, corrections officers, support staff and neighboring law enforcement agencies are essential to our success. As sheriff, I intend to build on those relationships and make sure the men and women protecting our communities have the leadership, training and resources they need to succeed.
I am excited about what we can accomplish together. My vision for the sheriff’s office is one where our agencies work together, our deputies have the training and resources they need, and we take an aggressive, coordinated approach to getting dangerous drugs off our streets. That means restoring regional partnerships, improving our ability to respond to critical incidents and making public safety our priority in every decision we make.
Whatever distractions have surfaced during this election, we cannot allow them to become the problems of our sheriff’s office. Personal disputes have no place ahead of public safety. The people of Lewis County deserve a sheriff who can work impartially, put the election aside, and get to work.
I believe the best days are still ahead for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. We have dedicated people, strong communities and tremendous opportunities to move forward. What we need now is leadership that can bring people together, unite our efforts and keep our priorities where they belong.
As you cast your ballot, I ask you to consider what matters most to you and your family. What kind of future do you want for our sheriff’s office? When you need help on your worst day, who do you trust to lead the men and women answering that call?
Long after the votes are counted and this campaign is behind us, the responsibility to protect our communities will remain. That work is bigger than any election, any disagreement or any one person.
I am ready to lead, and I would be honored to earn your vote on Nov. 3.
Together, we can move forward, put public safety first and stay focused on what matters.
Gabriel Frase
Candidate for Lewis County sheriff
Editor's note: The Chronicle allows political candidates to publish one letter to the editor per election cycle.
