Whatcom County residents who seek a position on the Whatcom Conservation District Board of Supervisors must file for the upcoming election by 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6.
Candidates can find application forms on the Conservation District website. To be eligible for the five-member board, a candidate must be a registered voter in the county, and a landowner or farm operator. The Conservation District assists landowners with voluntary projects that protect water resources, prevent soil erosion and restore habitats.
Supervisors are not compensated and serve three-year terms. They are expected to attend around 20 meetings per year, including 12 monthly board meetings.
Starting this year, the board will be able to tap into a new funding source: a $5 fee on most land parcels in the county, amounting to more than $500,000 annually. The Whatcom County Council approved the new fees in October.
Whatcom residents who would like to vote in the election can request a mail-in ballot by Feb. 7 or vote in-person on Election Day, March 21. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day at the Conservation District office, 6975 Hannegan Road, Lynden.
Voters with mail-in ballots must either drop off or mail their ballots to the district office. Do not use the county’s election drop boxes.
Direct any questions about the Conservation District election to wcd@whatcomcd.org or 360-526-2381 x 101.