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Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
October 23, 2012
POLK COUNTY -- There are four seats on the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District's (Polk SWCD) board of directors up for grabs during the November vote-by-mail general election.
One of those four races is contested -- sort of.
Incumbent Chad Woods and challenger Dennis Brown are both listed as vying for an at-large seat on the seven-member board.
Chad Woods
Take note: Brown doesn't want to be elected.
"I got into this by mistake," Brown said, noting he declared his candidacy just before the filing deadline in August because he believed nobody was running and didn't want the seat to go unfilled.
He was unaware that Woods, who's served for the past six years, was seeking re-election. Brown said it was too late for him to have his name removed from the ballot, so he's asking residents to vote for Woods.
"I think it's important to elect Chad because he's the better man for the job," Brown said. "He's got experience and know what's going on."
Polk SWCD is a taxing district that covers the entire county, and also receives funding from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Members of the board live within this county's five designated watershed areas.
The purpose of the district and its board is assistance for farmers and landowners regarding natural resources and general public education in areas of invasive species, soil erosion and water quality.
Woods, 60, is a real estate broker and farmer who's lived in Dallas for 25 years. He was appointed to Polk SWCD in 2006 to serve out the remaining two years of a term, and ran for re-election in 2008. He now serves as vice chairman of the board of directors.
Woods said there will be three new board members this year, and two long-time members who won't be back after 2013.
"I'm looking to come to help us in the transition as we have new leadership," he said. "It's important that you have members who have enough history and experience to teach the newcomers."
In the uncontested races, Linda Marquardt of Dallas is seeking election in Zone 1, Nathan Slaven of Independence is vying for Zone 3, and Doug Wyant of West Salem is running in Zone 4.
Zone directors must own or manage more than 10 acres of land in the district. Board terms are for four years.
POLK SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES
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Zone 1
Linda Marquardt-Sutton, Dallas
Zone 3
Nathan Slaven, Independence
Zone 4
Doug Wyant, West Salem
At Large
Chad Woods, Dallas
Dennis Brown, Dallas
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