FILING FOR SWCD SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES IS MAY 18 – JUNE 1

Minnesota citizens interested in influencing natural resources issues at the local level are encouraged to run for supervisor of their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

SWCD supervisor positions are filled through general elections on November 2.  Individuals who wish to be on the ballot in 2010 must file for the election between May 18 and June 1.

Interested citizens should file a Minnesota Affidavit of Candidacy (available from the county auditor). There is a $20 filing fee.  All candidates for state and local offices must state on the Affidavit of Candidacy that they are eligible voters, will be at least 21 years of age when assuming office, and will have been residents of their nominating district for at least 30 days before the general election.  Supervisor candidates must live in and file from a nominating district.

After the filing period has closed, the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) will be soliciting candidate profiles from those who have filed and will be posting the candidate profiles on their web site (www.maswcd.org) to help educate voters.  Candidates are elected at-large on the ballot, except for Washington Conservation District in the Twin Cities, where candidates are elected by each individual nomination district within the county.

Those individuals who are elected to the position of SWCD supervisor file a Statement of Economic Interest with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board within 60 days of the beginning of their term.

SWCDs are local units of government that manage and direct natural resource management programs at the local level.  Minnesota’s 90 SWCDs cover the entire state and generally follow county lines.  Districts work with landowners in both rural and urban settings to carry out programs for the conservation, use, and development of soil, water, and related resources.  Districts fill the crucial niche of providing soil and water conservation services to owners of private lands. Privately owned lands make up 78% of the land surface in Minnesota. Managing these private lands, whether agriculture, forest, lakes, or urban, is key to Minnesota's quality of life.

SWCD supervisors set overall policy and long-term objectives for their district and work with SWCD staff to see that policies and plans are implemented.  Supervisors are not paid a salary; however, they do receive compensation for attending meetings and are reimbursed for expenses.

More information on the filing process can be obtained at the Minnesota Secretary of State web site, www.sos.state.mn.us.  Persons interested in finding out what nominating district they live in and which supervisor positions are open for election should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office.  A directory of SWCDs is located at www.bwsr.state.mn.us/directories/SWCDs.pdf and a list of SWCD web sites is available at www.maswcd.org/SWCDs_On_The_Web/swcds_on_the_web.htm. Additional SWCD election resources have been prepared by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) and are posted on their web site at www.maswcd.org.