Max Prinsen of Renton has been elected to a three-year term as a member of the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors, following a final canvassing of votes in Tuesday’s election.
Prinsen received 1,772 votes, Mara Heiman of Auburn, 1,488, Mary Embleton of Seattle, 519, Kirk Prindle of Seattle, 402, and Teri Herrera of Redmond 51.
The unofficial election results will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at its business meeting in May. Prinsen will be sworn in at the June 14 conservation district board meeting.
The 2010 vote total of 4,232 was a major increase over the 2,757 ballots cast in the 2009 election and reflects successively larger turnouts in conservation district elections over the past five years, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Knutsen.
“The higher level of activity at the polls this year can be attributed to increased interest in the King CD, including our voluntary conservation and stewardship efforts with private landowners, and enthusiastic campaign efforts by candidates,” said Knutsen.
The conservation district, working with Bellevue-based election administrator Election Trust, provided seven polling locations across the district, which includes most of King County.
OLYMPIA – People who vote in grass-roots conservation district elections are selecting leaders to help improve Washington’s natural resources.
Issues that surfaced last year have resulted in substantial changes to conservation district election procedures, according to the Washington State Conservation Commission.
Last April, the Conservation Commission held a public hearing in Port Angeles to hear about election problems directly from citizens.
“We heard two clear messages: it’s unfair to voters to not know who all the candidates are, and it’s unfair to elect someone if that person may not be eligible to serve,” said Mark Clark, commission executive director.
The revised procedure requires all candidates to file with the conservation district at least four weeks before election day. Conservation districts determine eligibility of candidates before election day.
The Conservation Commission also clarified eligibility rules regarding land ownership and operation of a farm. By state law, three of the five conservation district board members must own land or be a farm operator.
The Conservation Commission also increased the minimum time polls must be open so citizens will have more opportunity to vote.
The conservation district provides information and technical assistance programs that are available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. It’s community outreach activities include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water and wildlife management.
