2026 Voter Guide: Polk County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioners

Election: November 3, 2026 | Nonpartisan county contest | Vote for up to two | Live. Work. Thrive.: Essential Needs, Economic Opportunity and Community Well-being

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Commissioners. Commissioners make local decisions about protecting land and water and helping residents use conservation programs. This guide presents candidate information in ballot order and identifies gaps where reliable public information was not found.

What does a Soil and Water Conservation District do?

Iowa's countywide Soil and Water Conservation Districts are governed by five locally elected commissioners. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, commissioners set local natural-resource priorities; collaborate with farmers, homeowners, technical specialists, and local, state, and federal partners; promote conservation education; and help guide technical and financial assistance for conservation work.

These boards can influence practical programs including soil-erosion prevention, runoff reduction, habitat protection, land stewardship, and water-quality outreach. They do not individually set statewide drinking-water standards, enact state tax laws, or replace state and federal environmental regulators. Their responsibility is primarily local conservation planning, partnerships, program support, and oversight of available resources.

The four candidates are Deborah Neustadt, Douglas R. Zehr, Kirk Norris, and Autumn L. Ogden. Voters may select up to two.

Meet the candidates

Deborah Neustadt | Non-incumbent candidate

Background. Neustadt describes herself as a retired science educator who has lived in Des Moines since the 1980s. Her candidate questionnaire reports experience teaching science in local schools and at a community college, along with environmental and neighborhood volunteer service.

Stated priorities. She discusses soil conservation practices, a more diverse agricultural landscape, streambank restoration, and programs that help urban homeowners implement conservation measures. She also advocates more investigation of agricultural drainage practices and stronger nitrate protections. Her questionnaire raises ideas about expanding production beyond corn and soybeans and supporting locally grown food.

Scope of office. The board can promote projects, education, partnerships, and local priorities. A proposed change to state or federal nitrate limits would require action by the responsible government bodies, not a unilateral decision by a county conservation commissioner.

Douglas R. Zehr | Candidate

Background. Zehr identifies himself as a retired biology professor at William Penn University and a longtime resident of rural northern Polk County.

Stated priorities. In his 2026 questionnaire, Zehr says he would help carry out the local district's conservation goals and favors approaching soil and water challenges through scientific evidence. He describes a willingness to assist the district whether or not he is elected.

Information limits. The questionnaire gives a general conservation philosophy but does not provide a detailed list of proposed local projects, budgets, or regulatory initiatives. No additional position is inferred from that absence.

Kirk Norris | Candidate

Background and available record. Norris is listed among the four certified names for the two county conservation seats. In the public candidate profile reviewed for this article, no substantive biography or questionnaire responses were available.

Stated priorities. We could not verify a detailed, reliably attributable 2026 conservation platform for Norris in the reviewed sources. That is an information gap, not evidence that he supports or opposes any specific conservation practice.

Questions to pursue. Readers may wish to ask about urban stormwater, agricultural runoff, conservation funding, public outreach, and the candidate's experience managing local environmental projects.

Autumn L. Ogden | Current commissioner

Background. Ogden describes herself as a sixth-generation farmer based in Ankeny whose operation includes livestock, crops, pollinators, and gardens. She reports serving as an assistant commissioner beginning in 2024 and being appointed to fill a commission vacancy in January 2026.

Stated priorities. Her public questionnaire emphasizes practical soil and water stewardship on farms and in home landscapes, education for young people, and expanded community outreach. She identifies land-use planning, water-quality funding, and local and regional food systems as areas of interest.

Information limits. Her incumbent status and described farming experience supply context, but individual past commission votes, program results, and funding impacts have not been assessed in this guide.

Comparing the questions raised by this office

Agricultural runoff, erosion, and water quality

Neustadt discusses streambanks, drainage, diversified practices, and nitrate concerns. Zehr emphasizes science-based conservation. Ogden emphasizes practical stewardship, farm-and-yard education, and water-quality funding. No detailed platform was verified for Norris. The policies and specific projects proposed by candidates are not equally documented, so this guide does not assign them positions on unanswered questions.

Urban and rural conservation

Neustadt discusses urban property owners and agricultural land-use change. Ogden describes conservation education extending from backyard landscapes to farms. Zehr refers to the district's countywide goals without specifying comparable programs. A county district serves both urban residents and agricultural communities, and the board's work can involve both.

Conservation assistance and public resources

Commissioners help direct financial and technical support within the programs available to their district. A voter may reasonably ask every candidate how funding decisions should be made, what results should be tracked, and how underserved neighborhoods as well as rural landowners can learn about assistance.

Community outreach and education

Ogden explicitly proposes youth-facing conservation education. Neustadt reports extensive science-teaching and community-group experience. Zehr offers his scientific teaching background and willingness to assist the district. The public record reviewed here was too limited to characterize Norris's outreach priorities.

Questions to ask any candidate

How would you choose conservation projects when demand exceeds available funding? How should the district measure reduced erosion, improved water quality, and participation in its programs? What share of attention should go to urban runoff compared with agricultural priorities? How would you explain the limits of voluntary programs and coordinate with agencies that do have regulatory authority?

Sources and further reading

• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, official commissioner duties: https://iowaagriculture.gov/field-services-bureau/additional-resources-field-services

• Iowa SWCD locations and commissioners, official state resource: https://costshare.iowaagriculture.gov/swcdlocations

• Polk County Auditor, election candidate information and nomination details: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/county-auditor/election/news-and-press-releases/general-election-november-3-2026-candidate-information/

• Deborah Neustadt, candidate questionnaire: https://ballotpedia.org/Deborah_Neustadt_%28Polk_County_Soil_and_Water_Conservation_District_Commissioner_Board%2C_Iowa%2C_candidate_2026%29

• Douglas R. Zehr, candidate questionnaire: https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_R._Zehr_%28Polk_County_Soil_and_Water_Conservation_District_Commissioner_Board%2C_Iowa%2C_candidate_2026%29

• Kirk Norris, candidate listing and available information: https://ballotpedia.org/Kirk_Norris_%28Polk_County_Soil_and_Water_Conservation_District_Commissioner_Board%2C_Iowa%2C_candidate_2026%29

• Autumn L. Ogden, candidate questionnaire: https://ballotpedia.org/Autumn_L._Ogden_%28Polk_County_Soil_and_Water_Conservation_District_Commissioner_Board%2C_Iowa%2C_candidate_2026%29

Research and editorial note

The candidate statements here are attributed and are not independently verified project results or guarantees. Because questionnaires were not equally detailed, missing information must not be interpreted as a policy stance. NAACP Des Moines does not endorse, oppose, rank, grade, or recommend any candidate in this nonpartisan contest.