​WICD Board of Supervisors - Elections and Appointments

Note: All conservation district elections and appointments in Washington State are governed by Washington Administrative Code 135-110 with guidance and oversight provided by the Washington State Conservation Commission. 
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2021 Election and Appointment Information

Each conservation district (CD) in Washington is governed by a board of five members, called supervisors. Three are elected locally by the public, and two are appointed by the Conservation Commission. At least two of the elected and one of the appointed supervisors must be local landowners or operators of a farm. The term of office is three years. Supervisors are non-partisan and serve without compensation — they are volunteers.  

In May 2021, the terms of two WICD supervisors - one elected, one appointed - will expire. Both are full-term (3-years) positions to be filled. The WICD Board of Supervisors recently adopted by resolution an election date of February 2, 2021. The resolution also names Sandy Welch as the Elections Supervisor and establishes that WICD's 2021 election will be conducted by mail-in ballot only; no in-person voting will occur in this election. The appointed position will be filled by the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) following a candidate application and interview process.

Please continue reading below for important information on how to vote and/or how to apply for a supervisor position.

Voting timeline:

• November 4, 2020 - Voters may begin requesting ballots
• December 11, 2020 - Candidate applications are due for Elected Supervisor Position
• January 4, 2021 - WICD begins sending out requested ballots
• January 19, 2021, 4 pm - Voter deadline to request ballots
• February 2, 2021, 4 pm - Completed ballots must be received via mail; counting process begins

Voter Information

Eligible voters must be registered to vote in Island County and reside on Whidbey Island (within the boundaries of the conservation district). Because this election will be held solely by mail-in voting, ballots are available by request only. Requests MUST include the eligible voter's full name and full mailing address. We also highly recommend providing a phone number and/or email address so that we may contact you if there is any issue with your request.  

Voters could request ballots from November 4, 2020 - January 19, 2021. Voters can expect to receive ballots between late December and late January depending on the date of the ballot request. 

Completed ballots must be received by WICD via the US Postal Service no later than 4:00 PM on February 2, 2021. Volunteer polling officers will begin the process of counting votes at that time. Ballots received after this deadline cannot be counted regardless of the postmark date. It is suggested voters mail their completed ballots back to WICD at least one week prior to the deadline.

Return completed ballots by mail to:
WICD
PO Box 490
Coupeville, WA 98239

If you are returning your ballot and are unsure if it will arrive at the WICD office by the deadline, there will be physical drop boxes available at the WICD office on Monday, Feb. 1 and Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 8:30-4pm.
WICD Office is located at:
1 NE 4th St
Coupeville, WA 98239

Meet our Candidate

We received one declared candidate application by the filing deadline of December 11, 2020. Jennifer Abermanis has been verified as an eligible candidate and will appear on the ballot. A space for undeclared “write-in” candidates will also appear on the ballot.

Candidate Statement, Jennifer Abermanis

I’ve been a landowner in Freeland since June 2003 and a full-time resident since February 2020.
 I started ordering native bare root plants from the district years ago. When I saw the opportunity to meet more neighbors and add value to the community as an elected Supervisor, I jumped on it! 
 My business (& science) background and environmental interest position me to learn from colleagues and neighbors, listen deeply, and partner with you to assure continued service and improvement of our Conservation District.
 I’m originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana. I’ve seen the devastation weather can present.  I am from a small town, raised on a riverbank with a well and a septic tank.  That upbringing was the driving force behind our Freeland purchase while raising our children in Bothell.  My work background is healthcare.  I’ve been an executive, director, external consultant, internal consultant, board member, and clinical laboratory inspector.   My bachelor’s degree is in Clinical Laboratory Science and master’s degree is in Healthcare Administration.  I now partner with my husband as we grow our small organic pumpkin seed business and meet the public from our booth at the Bayview Farmers Market. 
I’d love the opportunity to represent you.

Questions? Call: 360-678-4708  or  888-678-4922 - please leave a message. Or email:  wicd@whidbeycd.org.

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​​Information for Candidates

Qualified candidates must be registered voters residing on Whidbey Island, and may be required to own land or operate a farm. Candidates may apply for both the elected and appointed positions but can only be selected to fill one.  Candidates should also be aware that the application process differs between the two positions.  Below are basic instructions with links to application forms and guidance documents for each position.

Elected Position:  
The deadline to apply for this position has passed.

Appointed Position: 
​Please read the Conservation District Applicants Guide to Appointments before applying. To apply for the appointed position, applicants must simply complete and submit Form AF-1, an online form maintained by the WSCC. The application deadline is March 31, 2021.


​Related Documents:​

• Conservation District Elections Fact Sheet​​
• Conservation District Supervisor Responsibilities
• WICD 2021 Election Resolution #20-10-1
• Conservation District Candidates Guide to Elections
• Form PF-A Candidate Information Form (application for elected position)
• Conservation District Candidates Guide to Appointments
• Form AF1 - Conservation District Appointed Supervisor Application ​ (application for appointed position)