Why I Serve — A Message from Audrey Lukasak, City Council Member, Ward 3
In December 2024, I said "yes" when asked to serve in a leadership role on Circleville City Council, representing Ward 3. In my short tenure, I’ve been deeply inspired by the people I’ve met and the issues we’ve faced together. That’s why I am choosing to continue this service — because the people of Ward 3 matter to me.
I’m listening. I hear your concerns about safety, housing, food insecurity, and trust in government leadership. I come to this role as a non-partisan voice, focused on people — not parties — and on solutions that uplift our entire community.
Some may not know me, as I moved to Circleville during the pandemic. But maybe you’ve seen me around town in my bright pumpkin orange 1977 VW van — affectionately known as Cheeto-Love. That van has a Circleville story too: it was a wedding gift to my sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Warren Leist, from longtime residents Carl and Geraldine Leist. Cheeto-Love reminds me every day of my commitment to keep moving this community forward — together.
I chose to make Circleville my home after the loss of my sister. I moved here to care for my mother during hospice and purchased the home my sister lovingly renovated. As a retired ELCA Lutheran pastor and chaplain, I’ve served locally as an interim pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and Circleville Presbyterian Church, and as a chaplain with OhioHealth and the Wexner Medical Center. These roles allowed me to connect with our community in meaningful ways — building trust, showing up, and listening.
I grew up in a small town — St. Clair, Michigan — and I know both the joys and the challenges that come with close-knit communities. Small towns thrive when neighbors look out for one another. But they also face real struggles when it comes to change and growth. Through my leadership experience, I’ve learned how to find balance: honoring tradition while seeking creative and compassionate solutions for today’s challenges.
Circleville deserves leadership rooted in listening, respect for diverse voices, collaboration, and trust. That’s the kind of leadership I offer — and the kind I will continue to bring to Ward 3.
Let’s keep moving forward, together.
