Board Elections
Whatcom CD Board of Supervisor Election Information
Each Conservation District is governed by a board of five supervisors who are all local residents. Click HERE to meet our current board members.
2023 Board of Supervisor Election
Whatcom Conservation District held a poll-site and mail-in ballot election for one seat on the District Board of Supervisors.
All in-person ballots and mail-in ballots received by Tuesday, March 21, 2023 were delivered to the Election Division of the Whatcom County Auditor's Office for counting.
Preliminary Unofficial Election Results*
(includes all mail-in and in-person ballots cast by 3/21/2023 and counted as of 3/22/2023)
Vote Tally – 437 total ballots
Candidates
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Heather Christianson – 435 votes
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Write-in - 2 votes
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Undervote - 0
(listed alphabetically by last name)
Mail-in ballots postmarked by March 21, 2023 and received after March 21, 2023 will be delivered to the WC Elections Division for processing and counting on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
*Election results are unofficial until certified by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Election certification will take place during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission in May, 2023.
If you have questions regarding the District election or serving on the Board of Supervisors, contact Dawn Bekenyi at dlb@whatcomcd.org or 360-526-2381 x 101.
Official updates on the District election are posted on this election webpage, only.
By January 6, 2023: Apply to be a Candidate
Do you want to become a District Supervisor?
The Whatcom Conservation District (WCD) is receiving applications for Supervisors to serve on the Whatcom CD Board of Supervisors. Board members ensure that the Districts programs effectively meet the priority natural resource needs of Whatcom County.
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The deadline to file as a candidate is January 6, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
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Candidates for this seat must be a landowner or operator of a farm and be a registered voter residing in Whatcom County.
To download the Candidate Application form click HERE
For more information on what a Board of Supervisors responsibilities are see the bottom of this page or click here
January 9, 2023: Candidates Announced
By February 7, 2023: Deadline to Request Mail-in Ballot
Mail-in ballots are only available upon request. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is February 7, 2023 by 4:00 p.m.
Voters can request ballots by using the Whatcom Conservation District’s ballot request form here or by phone (360) 526-2381.
For your privacy and to ensure your information is current, a new request for a mail-in ballot must be completed every election year.
Your email addresses will be NOT be collected when you complete a ballot request. NOTE: You must ensure that all the information placed in the ballot request form is accurate before you hit the submit button or you may not receive a ballot.
Late February 2023: Mail-in Ballots sent
Ballots will be mailed to you late February, 2023.
If you have not received a ballot by March 9, 2023, please contact the WCD office at (360) 526-2381 x 101 for a replacement. Requests for replacements cannot be honored after March 13.
March 21, 2023: Election Day!
Poll-site voting will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the District’s office at 6975 Hannegan Road, Lynden. The poll-site will be open at 9:00 am and close at 6:00 pm. Poll Site balloting will be conducted consistent with state and local COVID pandemic protocols and safeguards. Applicable COVID pandemic protocols and safeguards will be announced on the this election web page following the February 27, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting.
If you requested a mail-in ballot, you have two options to return your completed ballot:
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Mail it in. To be counted all mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before March 21, 2023. NOTE: not all mail is postmarked the day it is deposited with the post office due to changes to its mail-handling process.
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Drop it off. To be counted, all hand-delivered ballots must be dropped in the Whatcom Conservation District drop box at our office at 6975 Hannegan Rd, Lynden beside the front door on or before March 21, 2023 by 6:00 p.m.
NOTE: You will not be able to drop off your Supervisor Election ballot at any County election drop boxes.
If you have any questions regarding elections or serving on the Board, contact Dawn Bekenyi at wcd@whatcomcd.org or 360-526-2381 x 101.
All official updates will be posted only on this election webpage.
What is a Whatcom Conservation District Supervisor?
Each Conservation District is governed by a board of five supervisors who are all local residents. Click here to meet our current board members.
Supervisor Role & Responsibilities
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Identify local natural resource conservation needs
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Develop and evaluate Annual and Long-range plans.
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Educate and inform landowners, farm operators, the general public, and local, state and federal legislators on conservation issues and programs.
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Administer the District by delegating tasks through a structure of board officers and committees.
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Budget district funds and report on activities to the public.
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Set policy for District Executive Director to implement.
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CD Supervisors are public officials who serve without compensation.
Time Required
A Supervisor’s term of office is three years. Supervisors are expected to attend 12 regularly scheduled board meetings per year, committee meetings, and other special meetings, for an average of 20 days/year.
Benefits
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Serving your community by guiding programs to protect and enhance its natural resource priorities for present and future generations
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Satisfaction in seeing conservation practices applied locally
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Interaction with others who are passionate about natural resource conservation
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Ability to provide input to local, State, and Federal conservation programs
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Learning opportunities through the Washington Conservation Commission and the Washington Association of District Employees.