Filing for King Conservation District commissioner deadline December 12

The King Conservation District is running its annual election for an open seat on the board of commissioners. This is a great elected office for people who are interested in environmental conservation issues, ensuring we have healthy farmland, soil, and water in our county. 

They run the “manure match” program — which provides farm fresh manure and the “landowner incentive program” which pays landowners to enact conservation activities on their properties. 

King Conservation District is led by an all-volunteer, five-member board of supervisors. Three of the members are elected while the other two are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission, an agency created to assist and guide conservation district activities in Washington State.

Board members contribute local perspectives on important natural resource management and conservation issues, seek feedback about conservation programs from District residents, set KCD policy, and direct KCD’s work plan and budget.  

KCD elections occur annually during the first quarter of each year. Elections are conducted pursuant to guidelines established by RCW 89.08 with oversight from the Washington State Conservation Commission.

2020 Board Elections

KCD will be holding an election on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 to fill an open board seat.

The position is open to any registered voter living in the district — which includes all of King County except Federal Way, Milton, Skykomish, Pacific, and Enumclaw which are not part of the conservation district.

The King Conservation District is paid for by a special tax that supports technical assistance and education on water conservation, soil protection, wildlife habitat protection, farm conservation, etc.

Interested candidates, and voters, should follow the instructions below on how to participate in the election, which is a process unique to the District.

For Potential Candidates

Candidate Qualification Due Date: December 12, 2019.

Candidate qualification information: Washington State Conservation Commission – Elections and Appointments. At least two of the three KCD elected board members must be local landowners or operators of a farm. That restriction has been met, so anyone who meets the residency requirement can run.

Filers must submit BY DECEMBER 12:

• Candidate information form
• Nominating petition with the signatures at least 25 registered King County voters residing in the King Conservation District boundaries (because some signatures may be rejected for eligibility reasons, submitting 30-40 signatures is recommended).

All filing paperwork must be submitted IN PERSON to King Conservation District (800 SW 39th St, Suite 150, Renton WA 98057). The office is open from 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. For questions contact Ava Souza- Elections Officer at 425-282-1900; ava.souza@kingcd.org.

Candidate profiles will be available for review January 1, 2020 on the KCD’s website.

FOR VOTERS - this is also a unique process

Ballots will be available to eligible voters online beginning January 22, 2020. Check KCD’s website or the King County Elections website for ballot access links.

• Voters may return ballots electronically through the online ballot marking system. Ballots received through the electronic system on or before 8pm on February 11, 2020 will be eligible.
• Voters may print and mail the ballots to King County, Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057. Mailed ballots with a postmark no later than February 11, 2020 will be eligible.
• Voters may also receive and/or return ballots at a vote center located at King Conservation District’s Office, 800 SW 39th St., Suite 150, Renton, WA 98057. This voting center will be open from 9am – 8pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

This page will have up to date information on the KCD’s 2020 Board Election.