Campbell County’s Conservation District has been around since 1945, established by a vote of the county’s citizens.
The district comprises seven locally elected officials who serve four-year terms without pay. Incumbents Rick Carr, Susan Ortlieb-Turner, and Rick Simon are seeking reelection. Newcomers Brant Owens and Greg Davis also seek a district supervisor spot, with five candidates running for four seats.
Soil and Water Conservation (5 candidates, vote for 4)
Click on the candidate’s names to learn more about them:
- Rick Carr
- Greg Davis
- Susan Ortlieb-Turner*
- Brant Owens
- Richard (Rick) Simon
Rick Carr
Rick Carr, a civil engineer, is running for reelection to the conservation district to share his experience in soil erosion and water management.
Carr said the district’s most pressing issue is balancing land development and protecting the county’s natural resources.
Should he be elected, Carr said his priorities are best management practices related to conserving and protecting soil and water resources. He acknowledges that development is coming and said the county needs to work to provide a safe and healthy environment for families balanced with a strong economic base. Carr said he believes anyone who owns property wants to protect what they have, and the conservation district can help them do that.
As a licensed civil engineer working on 100s of projects in northern Kentucky, Carr said he has become familiar with the issues around soil erosion and how water runoff can affect streams and woodlands.
“A lot has changed in Campbell County over the last 50 years, but the physics of soil and water have not changed, only the way we manage it,” Carr said. “Water still flows downhill. We must work with the natural laws of Nature to protect what has been given us.”
Brant Owens
Brant Owens is running for office to ensure representation and awareness of the district in urban and suburban areas.
He plans to increase outreach and ensure access to resources for all residents.
Owens said the district’s most pressing issues are soil health and erosion control, water quality and conservation, climate change adaptation and resilience, balancing urbanization and development with conservation needs, invasive species management, community education and resource allocation.
If elected, his top priorities are helping residents conserve natural resources and adapt to climate change.
Owens said that the qualifications that set him apart from other candidates are three decades of experience in the financial service industry with a track record of maximizing returns on investments and minimizing unnecessary expenses.
“Having spent over 50 years as a lifelong resident of Campbell County, I have witnessed firsthand the changes and challenges brought by development,” Owens said. “My deep roots in this community, combined with my energetic leadership and activism, enable me to forge the personal connections necessary to drive meaningful progress and ensure resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.”
Rick Simon
Rick Simon is running for reelection and aims to promote best management practices to the district’s producers.
He believes the most pressing issue for the conservation district is keeping the county’s waterways clean and free from pollution to provide clean, healthy water for people, livestock and crops.
“I have worked in agriculture most of my life and have always wanted to help with preserving our natural resources and helping others implement best management practices,” Simon said.
Simon’s qualifications include working in agriculture his whole life, being a longtime member of the Campell County Cattle Association, attending many programs put on by UK extension, having a good working relationship with the agriculture producers in the county, and holding officer positions in other organizations and the conservation district.
Incumbent Susan Ortlieb-Turner was contacted by LINK nky via email on Aug. 6, Aug. 15 and Aug. 21, and by phone on Sept. 11 with no reply.
LINK nky could not contact Greg Davis.
