For most people, getting elected to a local office doesn’t sound very glamorous, but local officials hold a surprising amount of sway. Minnesota is a state where local control laws are strong, which means that people serving in county and township government play a critical role in shaping the state we need. When it comes to land stewardship, the most influential local officials often serve as county commissioners or on a Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) board. They decide whether policies such as zoning rules or water quality rules need review, and oversee the distribution of state conservation funding requested by local farmers. For example, when a farmer seeks a variance (exception) from a land use ordinance, county planning and zoning commissioners decide whether that variance will be approved.
Running for local office isn’t something many of us are familiar with, so we reached out to several people holding these important seats to ask them about their experience and process. Below we summarize some of the information we gleaned on how they ran for local office and what it took to win, what the day-to-day process of holding office looks like, and where they are making gains for the future of our air, water, and soil. We also address common questions and share basic information for those considering a run themselves.
How to Run
Each of the folks we spoke with had a helping hand when it came to holding office: one was appointed and then stuck around for the following election, another was recruited by a retiring board member. If you are ready to serve, we recommend taking inventory of the landscape of your county’s elected officials as an important first step. Locate the various districts in your county by visiting this listing of Minnesota county websites. You can then learn whether any of your local seats are up for election by calling your county administrator or checking Land Stewardship Action’s 2026 election list by county.
Whatever the path to office, there are a few steps which are the same for everyone: commit to service and file the paperwork. The deadline for filing paperwork for 2026 elections is Tuesday, June 2; check the Minnesota Secretary of State’s “Become a Candidate” web page for details on filing. To help you make an informed choice about whether an elected position is right for you, our interviewees highly recommend attending a meeting or two of the board you are interested in. You can can also reach out to Land Stewardship Action at info@landstewardshipaction.org.
Once you commit and are ready to throw your hat in the ring, head to your county’s government building to file — it must be done in person. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s web page has a good summary of the requirements, and includes downloadable forms and the current base fee for filing. Requirements for candidacy are straightforward: you must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, have not filed for another office in the upcoming primary or general election, will be 21 years-of-age or older upon assuming office, and you must have maintained residence in the district for at least 30 days before the general election. Filling out an Affidavit of Candidacy form (a quick one-pager) and paying the fee seals the deal. Fees can vary by county, or they can be avoided altogether if you get 500 signatures supporting your candidacy.
What it Takes to Win: A Note on Campaigning & Connecting with Voters
Whether or not a seat is contested will have a big impact on how robust your campaign is. In many cases, open seats receive little interest. In fact, Ballotpedia News has reported that 70% of regular elections in Minnesota in 2024 were uncontested. The elected officials we talked to didn’t campaign at all — no yard signs, parades, advertisements, or social media accounts required. But if the seat you’re running for is contested, thinking about why you are the best candidate and how to communicate that to voters are important steps.
It’s always important to ask yourself “why” you are interested in running for office. Are you motivated by an important issue? Are you compelled to public service? Have you been encouraged to run by someone in your community? Successful candidates find help with a trusted circle of people who can soundboard ideas, test-drive messages, and review data about their district. Finding your “why” and being able to articulate it is the most important thing you can do to connect with voters and trusted messengers in the community. When door-knocking, keep the message focused on your strengths and ambitions for this particular office, rather than on comparing yourself to your opponent or running them down. Good experiences are shared with friends and neighbors and can catapult your campaign’s reach.
Local campaigns are generally low-cost and you may not need to fundraise extensively or at all, depending on the race. If you raise or spend over $750, you’ll need to report it to the same office where you filed your candidacy. But free campaigning opportunities abound: social media, introducing yourself by door-knocking, or even chatting with folks over coffee at the farmers’ market. Often, counties will host public forums where voters can get to know local candidates. If you’re considering additional ways of messaging, common expenses are yard signs, printed fliers, newspaper advertisements, and a website. Direct outreach to people in your district can be key to winning a local election. Turn your “why” into a clear message you can share during any conversation.
What Happens if I Win? The Day-to-Day of Holding Office
Once you get elected, there are some fundamentals to know. From a time and money angle, holding public office isn’t going to make you rich. You can expect monthly, biweekly, or weekly meetings, and there will be prep time involved for each meeting. Most elected positions come with a cash stipend per meeting attended, along with a mileage reimbursement. If you’re not familiar with the “Robert’s Rules of Order” meeting structure, you might want to spend some time on it before your first meeting. Reading the board’s previous year’s worth of minutes will also help bring you up to speed.
There is training available to support newly elected officials. The people we interviewed stressed the value of the county staff in helping them navigate their new roles. Martin County SWCD chair Chantill Kahler Royer said she asked tons of questions and found the staff to be a great resource. Fillmore County SWCD Chair Jason Wetzel shared that the training and orientation he got from state officials was helpful. The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts provides support for local SWCD board members. Additionally, the Minnesota Association of Townships and the Association of Minnesota Counties are good resources for township and county elected officials.
What’s Been Your Biggest Win So Far?
Getting money into the hands of farmers so they can implement conservation practices provides a lot of satisfaction for the SWCD supervisors we talked to. Kahler Royer shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity to help implement innovative conservation practices in her district. Wetzel talked about a grant that allowed his SWCD to financially support not only new practices, but also offset expenses for farmers whose conservation techniques have become a routine part of their system. He also values witnessing the different voices and perspectives — farmers, bankers, hunters, and conservationists — weighing in on board decisions. That’s the heart of democracy.
The Importance of Civility
A common thread in our interviews for this blog was the importance placed on practicing civility. Kahler Royer may have put it best when she said, “If I could say one thing it’s just that we may disagree on things, but we all need to treat one another with respect and that goes all directions, right? From elected person to…their constituents and vice-versa — humans just need to treat one another with some respect.”
Ultimately, stepping forward to run — especially where seats often go uncontested — is one of the most direct ways to shape the future of your community’s land, water, and resources. In lieu of waiting for someone to directly ask you, take the information presented here and go for it, or share it with a friend you think would make a good public servant.
Lizzy Haywood and Dawn Schreiber are members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Land Access and Emerging Farmer Steering Committee and Land Stewardship Action’s 2026 Electoral Committee. Land Stewardship Action is LSP’s 501(c)(4) partner organization that provides the movement with political and electoral tools for reforming our farm and food system. Haywood lives in Houston County, Minn., and Schreiber in Martin County, Minn.