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At their virtual meeting on December 3, 2020, members of the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) will discuss and may take action on potential changes to the CD election process.
You and your CD colleagues have played a huge role in the conversations and info-gathering leading up to this important meeting, including by participating in the recent CD Elections Webinar hosted by the SCC and WACD this past Saturday, September 26. View the webinar recording.
We as a Conservation Community have been discussing CD elections for over a year. Our hope is that in the next few months these efforts will culminate in a suite of options for the Conservation Commission to consider that will improve the CD election process for all.
At this point, it’s important to confirm that we have a shared understanding of why we’re here, what we’ve learned, and what to expect and do in the months ahead.
Why is the Conservation Commission exploring changes to CD elections?
We want to be clear about the reasons the Conservation Commission is considering changes to CD elections.
In December 2019, Conservation Commission members passed the following motion: “The SCC acknowledges the importance of the questions related to conservation district election processes. The SCC is concerned with the current legislative proposals and recommends more discussion with our constituents to avoid unintended consequences. The SCC commits to engage in evaluating potential improvements to the election process.”
Some of the drivers for this commitment and evaluation include:
- If we don’t adopt changes that make CD elections more transparent and result in more voter participation, then state legislators have said they will make the changes for us. This likely would mean a decision to put all CD supervisor positions on the general election ballot. The cost of being on the general election would cause conservation services to be cut in many areas to pay for elections, and some CDs may even have to close their doors.
- CDs and the SCC always must look for ways to improve our work — including how we run elections — as we are accountable to all Washingtonians. Washingtonians pay for our work through their state tax dollars, and they have entrusted us, in statute, with the critical job of addressing the “pressing need for the conservation of renewable resources in all areas of the state, whether urban, suburban, or rural” (RCW 89.08). CD elections are one way they have a voice in the work they help make possible, and it’s important the election process is the best it can be for them.
- As Washington grows at the seventh fastest rate in the nation and the people living within each CD boundary change, it’s increasingly important that all demographics and stakeholders within the community have an equal opportunity to know about CDs, supervisor positions, and their local elections. Conservation is for everyone, and we want to know if there are manageable changes we can make to elections that enable more people to join us.
This exploration builds on work previously done by CD supervisors, staff, and the SCC over the last couple of years to develop recommendations for election process improvements that could be made internally. Thanks to that effort, those recommendations were adopted at the September SCC meeting and take effect this election season. Read more about those changes.
What we’ve heard from you: “Must-haves” for CD elections
We also are committed to making sure CD elections meet your needs and the needs of the communities you serve.
Through discussions, surveys, and webinars like we held last Saturday, we’ve heard that — no matter what CD elections look like moving forward — there are some “must-have” criteria to consider when evaluating potential changes.
We’ve heard the CD election process must be:
- Affordable / Manageable
- Non-partisan
- Flexible (not one-size-fits-all)
- Inclusive / Equitable
- Transparent
- Accessible
- Trustworthy
- True-to-mission
We hope you’ll join us in keeping this list in mind as we look for changes that could improve CD elections for all.
What to expect and do in the months ahead
All CDs are asked to review the following options for potential CD election changes — which were discussed during the September 26 webinar — and decide which option or options best meet your needs and the needs of our greater Conservation Community. These options are not mutually exclusive. A combination of some or all could be moved forward, if there’s support. The details for each are still being discussed, and we welcome your ideas. Any changes made wouldn’t go into effect until after the 2021 election season. Some may require a legislative change.
Option 1: Allow option for CDs to go on general election ballot.
- Could also include allowing those on general ballot to implement rates and charges.
Option 2: Host all CD elections during one "Conservation Week"
- Would allow for more effective/efficient statewide promotion of CDs/CD elections
Option 3: Increase outreach in current election process.
Option 4: Make elections more affordable
- Extend board supervisor terms of office to four years.
- Conduct elections every other year.
- Allow conservation districts to set the election date at a point during the year.
- Provide the option for districting/zones for elected board supervisor elections.
Action requested
Please discuss these options at your upcoming board and Area Meetings, keeping in mind which options will best serve the needs of your community, your CD, and the needs of our larger Conservation Community. We plan to host another all-district webinar in November for a final discussion and decision about which option(s) to present to Commission Members for potential action at their December 3 meeting. Your feedback is crucial to this decision.
Diversity and inclusion in conservation
During the Elections Webinar, points were raised related to diversity and inclusion in our work. Many CDs have requested to talk and learn more about this topic. The Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) is the lead on this and is exploring more venues and resources for continuing this conversation.
Thank you, and let us know if you have comments / questions
The topic of elections can be difficult to discuss. It relates to and tugs on many other significant and associated issues, which can vary dramatically from one community to the next. Thank you for being part of these discussions, especially when it may have felt difficult. Each of your voices is important to this conversation and presents an opportunity for us to learn.
For questions or comments about planning and conducting your election in the 2020-2021 election cycle, please contact your Regional Manager.
For questions or comments about the proposed suite of changes for future CD elections, please contact Bill Eller.
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