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 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 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 three seats open on the Benton Soil & Water Conservation District board this November.  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 Jackson or Iowa townships.  There can be no more than one commissioner from any one township and those townships already have 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 by the filing deadline of 5:00 p.m. August 29, 2012, 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.