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State Districts II and IV to Elect TSSWCB Board Members

TEMPLE - Soil and water conservation districts in State Districts II and IV will elect Board Members to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) on Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

The State District II election will be held at 6:00 p.m. in Wall at the Saint Ambrose Catholic Church Parish Hall Conference Room. State District II consists of 51 counties within which there are 45 soil and water conservation districts in the Hill Country, Big Bend, and Trans-Pecos regions of Texas.

The current TSSWCB Board Member for State District II is Marty H. Graham of Rocksprings. Graham, who has been a member of the TSSWCB since 2008, is a rancher in Edwards County.

The State District IV election will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Jacksonville at the Norman Activity Center. State District IV consists of 51 counties within which there are 37 soil and water conservation districts in the Piney Woods and eastern Gulf Coast regions of Texas.

The current TSSWCB Board Member for State District IV is Jerry D. Nichols of Nacogdoches. Nichols has been a member of the TSSWCB since 2003. He is currently engaged in livestock, poultry, and hay production. Nichols is also active in real estate, banking, and forestry.

"Since its beginning, the TSSWCB has been governed by five board members. Each respective board member is elected in a convention-type election by delegates from soil and water conservation districts within the state district that the member resides. However, with the enactment of Senate Bill 1828 by the 78th Legislature, two Governor appointees also serve on the TSSWCB to create a seven-member board," said Rex Isom, TSSWCB Executive Director.

"Elections occur annually to comply with the soil conservation laws of Texas. The elections are held in state district conventions and TSSWCB board members serve two-year staggered terms. Since this is an even-numbered year, TSSWCB board member elections are being held in State Districts II and IV," added Isom.

Elected State Board Members must be 18 years of age or older, hold title to farmland or ranchland, and be actively engaged in farming or ranching. The Governor appointees must be actively engaged in the business of farming, animal husbandry, or other business related to agriculture and wholly or partly own or lease land used in connection with that business; however, they may not be a member of the board of directors of a soil and water conservation district.

"In short, the services and programs provided by the TSSWCB target rural Texas farmers and ranchers through soil and water conservation districts, but the results of these services benefit all Texans. For example, soil and water conservation districts provide technical assistance in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist agricultural producers implement voluntary conservation plans that best address the capabilities of the land they operate," said Isom.

"In addition to on-site soil and water conservation benefits to a farmer or rancher, the public enjoys residual benefits which include wildlife enhancement, as well as the prevention of sediment, pesticides, nutrients, bacteria, and other contaminants from impairing Texas waters," added Isom.

For more information about the TSSWCB Board Member elections in State Districts II and IV, please contact Clyde Gottschalk at (254) 773-2250 ext. 222 or cgottschalk [at] tsswcb [dot] texas [dot] gov. Additional information on TSSWCB Board Members is available at http://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/aboutus/board.

"Protecting and Enhancing Natural Resources since 1939."

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