FCD Board Supervisor Position

What does it mean to be a Conservation District Supervisor?

Ferry Conservation District is governed by a five member board of supervisors who serve three year terms. Supervisors are local landowners/users who serve on a voluntary basis and represent the interests of all landowners within the District. Three of the positions are elected locally by the residents of Ferry County and two positions are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission.

The board of supervisors is a governing body, officially elected to manage the District and District funds. It is not an advisory board. Supervisors provide direction and leadership for natural resource programs within the District. This is generally done by communicating with local stakeholders about natural resource issues; by providing technical, financial and educational assistance to resource users within the District; and by working closely with staff guiding the policies, plans and priorities of the District for natural resource conservation. Board members manage the finances, determine the grant funding that is sought, and monitor the progress of deliverables for awarded grants. Board members handle all aspects of personnel management and conduct employee evaluations once per year. They are also asked to network, tell people about the programs that are available, encourage participation, and lobby state officials when necessary.

The Ferry CD Board of Supervisors meets once a month to conduct district business. Occasionally, board members need to devote extra time reviewing information and materials, and they may need to represent the District at local or regional events. Annual events that supervisors usually attend include the regional association meeting in October, the state association convention in November, and the annual planning session. Board members are also expected to complete an annual internal audit that takes about half a day. Board members may also be asked to assist with special District projects, like the annual plant sale.

Who is eligible to serve on the Board?

All registered voters who own or occupy land within the District. This includes all land within Ferry County.

Who is eligible to vote?

All registered voters who own or occupy land within the District. This includes all land within Ferry County.

How can you run for office?

Specific information must be submitted to the conservation district by each candidate. The required form can be obtained through the Ferry Conservation District. Information required includes:

The candidate’s name, residential address, mailing address, and phone number;
Whether the candidate is a registered voter in the county where the conservation district is located;
Whether the candidate resides inside the conservation district boundary;
Dated signature of the candidate attesting to the information provided.
The candidate must also designate one of the following two choices: The candidate intends to run:
As a nominated candidate with his or her name on the official ballot. This option requires that the candidate submit to the Ferry Conservation District a nominating petition containing a minimum of twenty-five (25) Ferry County registered voter signatures (subject to validation) no later than 4 weeks prior to the election. The deadline for the 2010 election is 4:30 p.m. February 24, 2010.
As a declared write‐in candidate. The candidate’s name will NOT appear on the official ballot, and no nominating petition is required. However, the candidate must still submit the candidate application containing other required information to the Ferry Conservation District no later than 4 weeks prior to the election. The deadline for the 2010 election is 4:30 p.m. February 24, 2010.
The candidate must also designate one of the following:
The candidate IS a landowner or operator of a farm, as defined below.
or
The candidate is NOT a landowner or operator of a farm, as defined below.

“Landowner” means a person with legal title of record to real property in the conservation district where the person wishes to serve, and who meets this standard when required candidate information is filed with the conservation district.

“Farm operator” or “operator of a farm” means a person who operates farm and agricultural land as defined in these procedures, and who meets this definition when required candidate information is filed with the conservation district.

“Farm and agricultural land” is defined in RCW 89.08.020 as follows: “Farm and agricultural land” means either (a) land in any contiguous ownership of twenty or more acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses; (b) any parcel of land five acres or more but less than twenty acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses, which has produced a gross income from agricultural uses equivalent to one hundred dollars or more per acre per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter; or (c) any parcel of land of less than five acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses which has produced a gross income of one thousand dollars or more per year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter. Agricultural lands shall also include farm woodlots of less than twenty and more than five acres and the land on which appurtenances necessary to production, preparation or sale of the agricultural products exist in conjunction with the lands producing such products. Agricultural lands shall also include any parcel of land of one to five acres, which is not contiguous, but which otherwise constitutes an integral part of farming operations being conducted on land qualifying under this section as "farm and agricultural lands".

Begin gathering your nomination signatures in December, 2009 or January 2010 by contacting us to obtain the application and nomination forms. Contact us Contact us anytime to obtain general information about what it means to be a Board Supervisor or how the election generally works.

Appointed positions require the submission of an Application for the Position of Appointed Conservation District Supervisor form to the Washington State Conservation Commission by March 31st of the year in which an appointed term expires. Since there are only two appointed positions, an appointment does not occur every year. One appointed position is currently vacant. Contact the district for more information.

When and where are elections held?

By law, elections are held during the first quarter of each year, typically late in March for the Ferry Conservation District. The date for the 2010 election is March 24, 2010 at the District office in Republic, Washington, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Because the cost of conducting elections on the general ballot would be prohibitive, elections for district supervisors are not held in conjunction with the general election.

For more information, contact our office at (509)775-3473.