King Conservation District election using online vote
February 15, 2011
By Warren Kagarise
Sammamish resident among candidates for supervisors to handle conservation projects, programs
The little-noticed election for a King Conservation District board seat kicked off Feb. 15 and, for the first time, district voters in Sammamish and elsewhere can cast ballots online.
The monthlong election is for a supervisor seat on the board of the conservation district — the agency responsible for promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and providing information and technical assistance to landowners.
The electorate must choose among Kent farmer Bruce Elliott, Redmond real estate agent Teri Herrera, Duvall farmer Eric Nelson, Duvall environmental consultant Steven Neugebauer and Sammamish retiree Preston Prudente for the open seat.
“We are pleased to have a full slate of candidates for our inaugural online election,” board Chairman Bill Knutsen said in a statement.
Members handle a $6.5 million budget, offer guidance to staff members and assist with district programs. Supervisors also help to identify critical conservation needs in the district and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents.
The all-volunteer board includes three elected members and a pair of supervisors appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Both elected and appointed supervisors serve three-year terms.
Landowners fund the district through a $10-per-parcel assessment fee. Though the district receives some funding from the state conservation commission — plus King County, state and federal grants — state legislators do not allocate dollars to the agency.
In addition to Sammamish, the district includes all of King County except for Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish.
Voters inside the district started to cast e-ballots in the supervisor race Feb. 15. The voting period runs through March 15.
King County Elections does not administer district elections. Rather, the district has retained Bellevue-based Election Trust to coordinate the balloting. The company has managed past district elections at traditional polling places.
The district has introduced on-line voting to replace the scattered polling places used in past supervisor elections. Voters can cast e-ballots from computers using a PIN authentication provided by the district.
In the ongoing election, officials also plan to offer in-person voting at the district’s Renton office March 15.
Leaders shifted from the traditional Election Day to a 30-day voting period in a bid to boost voter turnout. The district provided a mere seven polling places across King County during the 2010 supervisor election due to budget constraints.
Though the district encompasses most of the 1.1 million registered voters in the county, anemic turnout has defined recent conservation district elections. The most recent election in March 2010 attracted 4,232 voters — a sharp increase from the 2,757 voters in the 2009 contest. Only 198 voters cast ballots in the 2008 supervisor race.
How to vote in the King Conservation District election
Reach reporter Warren Kagarise at 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com.
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