By Kirk Prindle, candidate for King Conservation District Board of Supervisors

Vote in the King Conservation District Board election this Tuesday, March 16 at the Downtown library…shhhhhh.

Shhhhhhh…it’s at the library.

Shhhhhhh…The King Conservation District Board election is this Tuesday, but…shhhhhhh…it’s at the library.

Shhhhhhh…you are not mailed a ballot…shhhhhhh…you have to go in person to the downtown Seattle or Shoreline public library…shhhhhhh.

I love our libraries, but what kind of message does this send? What kind of message does it send when the only public election that deals directly with the conservation of King County’s important natural resources is the only public election not publicly administered by the King County Department of Elections?

Secret elections may work for the Skull and Bones Society. Secret elections may work to ably disenfranchise the vast majority of voters. And, secret elections may work to marginalize positions or issues.

But, secret elections do not work for the King Conservation District, and they certainly do not work for Ballard – not when so many district programs, funds and opportunities could improve the lives of Ballard residents in our great neighborhood.

The sole mission of the King Conservation District is to promote the sustainable use of King County natural resources – it’s really tough to promote things in secret.

I believe the district should support programs and services that truly promote an awareness of the importance of natural resources to vibrant economies and livable communities.

The district should loudly support youth sailing, naturalist and outdoor recreation programs; the district should help jurisdictions develop prominent urban forestry programs and plant community heritage trees associated with civic buildings and public spaces; the district should sponsor local and county-wide conservation awards to demonstrate how King County values conservation; and, the district should support farmers markets and sponsor creative events and spectacles at the markets that directly promote our region’s natural resources.

These are the ways to truly promote natural resource conservation in King County, not by holding a secret election.

Please be sure to vote in the last “secret” election for the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors March 16 at the Central Library, located at 1000 Fourth Ave.

Don’t let the voices of Ballard be shushed – it’s too important.

Visit www.kirkprindle.com to learn more about my specific ideas to improve the King Conservation District and to truly promote awareness of the importance of natural resources in King County.