Government : Positions open on Soil & Water Conservation District Commission

Now that you have made it through the primary elections of this cycle, there is one more race to be decided by your ballot in November.

Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners will be elected in 100 districts throughout Iowa this November. These elected volunteers have been working with voluntary, private land soil and water conservation in Iowa since 1939. Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners help guide soil and water conservation programs in the district, identify local issues and concerns, and influence state and national conservation programs. Soil & Water Conservation Districts work closely with a number of local, state, and federal agencies, particularly the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

This is a great opportunity to become involved in environmental work at the local level. Iowa’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts are a lesser known, but very effective tool utilized to improve soil and water quality across our state. Five Commissioners, elected in general elections on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms, govern each district.

There will be four seats open on the Benton Soil & Water Conservation District board this November. Three terms are expiring, and one vacancy that expires in 2019 will be filled at the General Election. If you are qualified to vote in a general election, you are eligible to be a candidate to the SWCD board unless you live in Iowa Township. There can be no more than one commissioner from any one township and that townships already has a commissioner currently serving on the board.

Nomination forms, including a petition, are available in the county Auditor’s office. At least 25 eligible voters must sign the petition. Remember to return it to the Auditor’s office between August 8, 2016 and the filing deadline of 5:00 p.m. August 31, 2016, in order to be on the ballot in November. To obtain more information, contact your local Soil & Water Conservation District at 319-472-2161 or your county auditor.