The fact is, it is difficult to find out about the candidates running for soil and water races. Voters looking to get to know their candidates and make an informed decision are often left with little more that a choice between what name they like best.  There are lots of reasons for this including: candidates don't provide information about themselves, cost to have a bio included on the sample ballot, difficulty navigating the Supervisor of Elections website and non-partisan politics). However, we want to help!

The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District has 5 voting Supervisor positions who serve at-large to all 918 square miles and ~913,000 people of Duval County with no political affiliation.  The seats are numbered, Group 1-5. Every 2 years, a staggered amount of seats are open for re-election. In 2014, Group 1, 3 and 5 were on the ballot. Supervisors Patrick Bennett (1), Shannon Blankinship (3) and Dan Evans Jr. (5) were elected and sworn into office in January 2015.  Patrick Bennett just resigned, and his vacated seat was filled through a majority vote of Supervisors by Affiliate Member, Allen Moore (1). 

In November of 2016, Groups 2 and 4 are on the ballot. The seats are currently held by Brian Allen (2) and Evelyn Coney (4) who are not seeking reelection. 

On the ballot in Group 2 is Hunter Anderson and James Joseph Morton. 
On the ballot in Group 4 is Nelson Greene. His seat went unopposed. 

Hunter Anderson (2) Website Intro
"Hello, my name is Hunter Anderson and I am running to be your next supervisor on the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 2.  For many of you this is your first time hearing about me. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to learn about my candidacy. All too often local races like this are brushed under the rug. That usually results in Duval County not getting the local leaders it desperately needs.  As we head into the final weeks of this campaign, I've had the privilege to speak with many of you about my vision for the Soil & Water Conservation District. I'll come right out and say it - I do not have 30+ years of experience, and I have never held elected office. This leaves many to wonder why I am running. Often times we are too busy worrying about a candidates' resume that we do not even question whether they have the energy or passion to accomplish their objectives. You see, I believe my youth will benefit the board. I have both the spirit and diligence to make sure things are getting accomplished." Read more.

James Joseph Morton (2) Facebook page
James has made a Facebook page where you can find posts about his views, images, and a brief statement about the mission of the District. However, his "About" section has a Warning against anyone redistributing any of his profile information, photos, or content from the page. While we may disagree that any public official has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or that it is fair to expect that candidate statements will not be shared by others, we respect the candidates request. We have requested a candidate statement and image specific for this website, as of October 14, 2016. 

Nelson Greene (4) Candidate Statement
"Nelson Greene, of DeLand, Florida, has always felt fortunate to grow up surrounded by some of the state’s most beautiful natural landscapes. He never felt as though he was too far from areas like the St. Johns River, New Smyrna Beach, or DeLeon Springs, only naming a few locations that became pillars of his childhood. Nelson moved to Jacksonville in 2005 to attend the University of North Florida, where he later graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Subsequently, Nelson returned to his alma mater, UNF, to attain his Master of Public Administration while working full-time at a local credit union. From the beginning, and throughout that time, Nelson sensed a pronounced fondness, and took great interest in the prosperous municipality and community that is Jacksonville. Nelson currently works for a software company, originated in Jacksonville, which specializes in financial technology. Regardless of the position, Nelson’s career choices have always reflected a consistent undertone of altruism and helping others. In addition to occupational choices, Nelson has always given back to his community through numerous affiliations with local non-profits and professional organizations. He is extremely eager to represent his city through the Soil and Water Conservation District."

​Our board will not endorse for this position, but we want to help the voters make an informed decision. To have a healthy and functioning Soil and Water Conservation District, a competitive and functioning election process is critical. Thank you for the time, and looking into the candidates. 

Allen Moore is no stranger to the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District. As an affiliate member for the last few years, Allen has helped train current Supervisors, host the annual speech contest, conduct the soils section of the annual Envirothon, and organize soil workshops and trainings for landowners.  Allen has been at almost every District meeting for the last 5 years, and when a vacancy became available in August of 2016, we looked to our Affiliate Members to quickly and seamlessly fill that vacancy.

Congrats to Patrick Bennett for taking on an exciting career advancement in Nashville, Tennessee. We are happy to have Allen join us, serving the remainder of Patrick's term, ending in January of 2019.