In an election that cost about $50,000, Bob Vos of Auburn was re-elected March 18 to the Board of Supervisors of the King Conservation District.

Vos received 185 votes in the countywide election for a three-year term to the board’s Position 2. Vos had been appointed to the board about two years ago.

There were 11 write-in votes. The district is headquartered in Renton.

Vos said he was surprised by the scarce number of votes. Last year, he said, about 1,000 residents of the district cast ballots. He expected a larger number, but the turnout may have been affected by the fact he was the only candidate running for the position.

The election was more expensive than past years, but Vos said the district wanted to expand the number of polling places. There were 10, instead of seven last year, he said.

Also, the district hired an outside firm to conduct the election, he said. Previously, the election was organized and the polling places staffed by district employees, he said

Part of the money also went to advertising the election, he said. The election is not conducted by the King County Elections Division.

Vos said the board has been trying to raise the profile of the conservation district, which plays an important role in managing and conserving natural resources, including salmon.

Vos is a retired Boeing Co. employee, who is doing some consulting work for the company. He raises beef cattle on a farm between Auburn and Enumclaw. He’s a member of the King County Agriculture Commission.