Max Prinsen of Renton has been elected to a

three-year term as a member of the King Conservation

District board of supervisors following a final canvassing of votes cast in the district-wide election March 16.

The final vote tallies for elected board position were Prinsen, 1,772, Mara Heiman of Auburn, 1,488, Mary Embleton of Seattle, 519, Kirk Prindle of Seattle, 402 and Teri Herrera of Redmond, 51.

The unofficial election results will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at the business meeting in May.

Prinsen will be sworn in at the June 14 board meeting.

The vote total of 4,232 marked a major increase over the 2,757 ballots cast in the 2009 election and reflects larger turnouts over the past five years, according to board Chairman Bill Knutsen.

“The higher level of activity at the polls this year can be attributed to increased interest in the King Conservation District including our voluntary conservation and stewardship efforts with private landowners, and enthusiastic campaign efforts by candidates,” Knutsen said.

The district working with Bellevue-based election

administrator Election Trust, provided seven polling

locations across the district (which includes most of

King County). The election is held in accordance with Washington Revised Code RCW 89.08.

The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms. As public officials, their responsibility is to ensure that the district meets its legal and public trust obligations.

The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provide guidance and oversight to district staff.

Supervisors are expected to help identify critical resource conservation needs in their district, communicate with the public and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents.

The district provides information and technical assistance programs that are available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. It is hands-on, site specific, action and results oriented and it initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.

As one of 47 conservation districts in the state, the

the district is a natural resources assistance agency

authorized by the state of Washington and guided by the

Washington State Conservation Commission.