“After we made it work for a while, we needed to relocate,” Krein said. “It was very difficult. We had kids in school. I’ve been part of the community. I grew up there. So, we’re changing schools and doing what is more financially viable for us. It was not an easy decision.”

As one might expect, Krein’s departure has dampened the spirits of some of his supporters. Some of those folks have already voiced their dejection to Krein, who, in turn, has expressed regrets over his abortive tenure.

“A few people that I have heard from are just discouraged that I was leaving,” Krein said. “I feel bad. I do feel like I was voted in and I had an obligation to serve those people and I wasn’t able to fulfill it.

But I did stay on as long as I could.” During his campaign, Krein con- tended Lusk was at a pivotal junc- ture in its life as a town. That junc- ture was characterized by a famil- iar binary: growth and excellence or stagnation and mediocrity. It was Krein’s conviction Lusk’s business community would either grow into a robust local economy or shrink to such a diminutive size the town would be considered little more

than a “fuel stop along the way.”
As he departs Lusk, Krein still holds this conviction. Yet, the for- mer councilman believes oppor- tunities are on the horizon. These opportunities will call for the Town Council to make some tough decisions.
“I think Lusk has some opportunities coming towards it that are going to be unique moving for- ward,” Krein said. “I think the Town Council and the community as whole, including the county, are going to have to make some hard decisions moving forward. But I think the opportunities are there to keep the community going and growing.”

Among one of the trends Krein sees for Lusk is a decline in ranches, agriculture, and farms. This decline will necessitate changes Krein believes will generate controversy. Nevertheless, the departing councilman is confident his peers on the Town Council are well-equipped to tackle those changes.

“Those changes are going to come one way or another,” Krein said. “I think whether I am there or not, the town has a pretty good start on making those changes moving forward.”

While Krein does not foresee the complete disappearance of agriculture in Lusk, he does believe the town will have to diversify its eco- nomic portfolio with the addition of new businesses.

“I think a portion of that community is going to be ranching, just based on the location and what surrounds it,” Krein said. “But I do see it being less and less of a per- centage based on the fact there are less families out there doing it. It’s going to continue being an agricul- ture-based community, but a lot of other businesses are going to have to come in.”

Krein is no stranger to working in the local government of Lusk. During his 18-year law enforcement career, he spent several years serv- ing as Lusk’s Chief of Police. Now that his career in Lusk’s local gov- ernment has ended, Krein reflects on his experience with a sense of gratitude toward the small ranching community where he grew up.

“It has been an honor and privi- lege serving the community over the last six-years,” Krein said. “In fact, it’s probably one of the things I will reflect on all my life for a long time.”