LCDC Endorsed Candidates: The Soil and Water Conservation District Board
From the Desk of LCDC Chair Avram Fechter:
As early voting starts today in Leesburg, I wanted to provide you with some information on the very important work that the Soil and Water Conservation District Board does and the three candidates we have endorsed to fill seats up for election this year.
You can find more information
about how to vote early HERE
and about absentee voting HERE
On a daily basis, everyone who lives or visits Loudoun County is the beneficiary of the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), thus making our three candidates seeking to serve on the SWCD board a matter of vital importance to us all.
There may be no better way to understand the SWCD’s work than to walk along one of our country roads and follow the rivulets and creeks as they flow into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. The Soil and Water Board in Loudoun County seeks to foster best management practices (BMP's) to keep nutrients out of these waters and resist soil erosion.
There are SWCD boards across the Commonwealth and throughout the nation. The board does not enforce law or regulate anyone. The three elected members are unpaid. They help landowners and homeowners throughout Loudoun to follow these favored practices with more than $2 million in funding from the feds, state and our own County. They also present conservation lessons to our schools.
They offer guidance on sustainable agricultural practices, reforestation efforts, stormwater management and other strategies to protect natural resources. By acting as a bridge between scientific expertise and local communities, SWCDs empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions that balance human activities with the preservation of the environment. Through their multifaceted efforts, these districts play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological integrity and overall health of Virginia's landscapes for current and future generations.
The Loudoun SWCD is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has a five-member board of directors; three are elected volunteers, two are appointed by the SWCD Commission in Richmond.
OUR CANDIDATES
JOHN FLANNERY
John told me “I have been elected twice before. And I’d like to continue. My interest goes back to watching a show every Saturday as a kid in NY – the Modern Farmer -- concerned about our ability to sustain the richness of our soil and the availability and quality of our water. I was always interested in open land, the soil, and the rich wildlife to find on a walk on a dirt road.”
“There was a time I had 24 horses and now, on a smaller farm, my wife Holly and I have livestock (horse, cows, a steer, goats, sheep, and pigs). We have a pig rescue, Holly’s in charge, and have children out to feed pumpkins to the pigs so they’ll appreciate what the earth has to offer. I’m running for a third four-year term as Director to continue to underwrite the good agricultural practices we foster so we have the soil and water to grow the crops we need and to sustain the livestock.”
BIO
John P. Flannery is listed in "Who's Who in America", a regular guest commentator on TV and radio on law and politics including frequent appearances on MSNBC’s Ari Melber’s The Beat.
John is a former law clerk from the 2nd Circuit, a federal prosecutor from the Southern District of NY, practiced at a mid-town NYC law firm, then served twice on Capitol Hill as Special Counsel for the U. S. Senate Judiciary Committee and then the U.S. Senate Labor Committee. He served the Democratic House minority during the historic Impeachment proceedings of President Bill Clinton.
John is presently in private practice as a member of the law firm Campbell Flannery, in Leesburg.
John holds undergraduate degrees in Physics (BS, Fordham) and Industrial Engineering (BS, Columbia), a law degree (J.D., Columbia), and a Master’s Degree (Masters in Information Science, GW Graduate Business School).https://www.facebook.com/FlanneryforDirector/
PETER HOLDEN
John told me, “I worked for the Loudoun SWCD for a total of 48 years: 37 years full time and 11 more part time. I know the history of the District better than anyone else and I have developed a great relationship with all the districts in the Commonwealth. I also learned how to work with our political representatives to get the job done.”
BIO
Peter graduated from Virginia Tech in Ag Economics and received my MBA from Shenandoah University. He raised cattle for over 40 years on the farm that I grew up on in Loudoun County. He worked as a leader on ten Habitat for Humanity builds (mostly in Central America). He is a member of the Hillsboro Ruritan Club and the Lovettsville Farmers Club
UZMA RASHEED
Uzma told me, “I am running for the Soil and Water Conservation Board to assist Loudoun County in advancing policies to preserve native plants and trees. I want to be involved in mitigating the effects of development on the natural environment. I can help to improve outreach to the public and bring the rural and suburban residents to understand the best solutions for Loudoun County. I believe together that Loudoun County residents can become involved in utilizing open spaces, encourage health tree growth, and introduce natural/native plants throughout the County. Finally, I'm running mainly to educate the public on the Soil and Water policies and plans that the Board manages.”
BIO
She was born and raised in Northern Virginia, with family in and around Loudoun County. She is a life-long volunteer in various programs in the community, including scouting, social activities, interfaith outreach, and civic engagement. She had a 15 -year career as a Mechanical Engineer and for the past 12 years as an IT Project/Program Manager.