Most offices on the November ballot are familiar: president, senator, judge. But sandwiched between them is a role that often goes unnoticed, one where the race happens on paper but rarely in person.
There’s almost no campaign spending. There are almost never yard signs. In the few instances when candidates do knock on doors, people tend to be confused.
“I’ve lost count of the number of people that I’ve talked to who weren’t even aware that this was an organization,” said Danielle Holder, a candidate for soil and water supervisor within the Anoka Conservation District. “It doesn’t feel political. It almost feels like the most cordial race you could ever run.”
Voters in most Minnesota counties will select soil and water supervisors this November. Soil and water conservation districts trace back to the 1930s, when Congress was hoping to rein in erosion in the aftermath of the Dust Bowl. Over the years, the districts’ work has expanded, with some taking on projects aimed at improving water quality or protecting rare, native plants.
The volunteer supervisors serve as advisers for conservation districts, helping to decide which projects get priority for funding, keeping tabs on the organizations’ financials, and building connections within their local communities.
“We create relationships with private landowners. We explain the benefits of programs and explain the dollar sources that are available to them,” said Chuck Rau, a supervisor in Benton County and board president for the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Rau is up for re-election this year, running unopposed.
Candidates on the ballot this year include farmers, a real estate attorney, a former school nurse, and a parks and recreation worker, among others. Many run unopposed, a testament to the position’s low profile. But this year some races — including in Anoka and Dakota counties — have multiple candidates on the ballot.
Colleen Werdien, a former school nurse, became a soil and water supervisor in Anoka County four years ago because she was concerned about the environment and what the world might look like in the future for her nieces and nephews. During her time representing westerns portions of the county, including Anoka and Nowthen, the conservation district has pursued projects aimed at strengthening the integrity of the banks of the Rum River and requested funding to improve the quality of groundwater.
