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About the office

Commissioners are the governing body of the local soil and water conservation district, which works on soil erosion, flood and sediment damage, and conservation through surveys, demonstration projects and information.

Term: 4 years (Five commissioners per district, elected on a nonpartisan ballot to staggered terms.).

Pay: Commissioners are not paid for their service; they may be reimbursed for actual expenses when funds are available (Iowa Code 161A.6).

Photo of Emmaly Renshaw

Emmaly Renshaw

Soil and Water Conservation District
Nonpartisan office
Photo: source

Surveillance & privacy

No sourced statement or vote on surveillance found yet (license plate readers, cameras, facial recognition, drones, data retention).

Quick facts

Recent statement

Renshaw said conservation projects need to be practical, accessible, and financially viable for producers.

Biography

The race

  • Emmaly Renshaw is a nonpartisan candidate for Soil and Water Conservation District in the Nov. 3, 2026, Linn County general election.
  • They are not the current officeholder.
  • Also on the ballot for this office: Joshua O'Connell (Nonpartisan); Sean Stokes (Nonpartisan).

Sources: Linn County Election Services candidate list

Background

  • Emmaly Renshaw was a parent of three Jackson Elementary students and co-president of the Jackson Parent Teacher Association in 2015.
  • Renshaw is an Iowa State University graduate (bachelor's, 2004) who lists her profession as agriculture and is not an incumbent officeholder.
  • Maintains a personal LinkedIn profile, which her Ballotpedia candidate page lists as her contact; the profile describes her as Senior Program Director of Farmer Development at Iowa Valley RC&D, based in Cedar Rapids.

Sources: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive); Ballotpedia; LinkedIn

Public life

  • Renshaw chairs the Linn County Extension Council, the elected body that governs ISU Extension and Outreach in Linn County, with a term expiring in 2026.
  • Co-owns a home in Cedar Rapids, recorded 2011 (instrument 08076-00002).
  • Renshaw was listed as a breakout speaker representing Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development's Community Kitchen at the Linn County Food Systems Council's Oct. 30, 2026 food symposium.
  • Emmaly Renshaw is a nonpartisan candidate on the Nov. 3, 2026 general-election ballot for the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Board, where two seats are open and she is running alongside Joshua O'Connell and Sean Stokes.
Show 3 more
  • Renshaw said she currently serves on the Linn County Food Systems Council, chairs the Linn County Extension Board, and serves on Women Land and Legacy, the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee, the Women, Food and Agriculture Network, and local public school committees.
  • Her Facebook profile (under the name Emmaly Fenton Renshaw) identifies her as Senior Program Director at Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development.
  • Her publicly visible Facebook profile shows no political party affiliation or partisan content.

Sources: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Cedar Rapids Assessor; Linn County, IA; Ballotpedia; Facebook

Positions & statements

  • Renshaw said conservation projects need to be practical, accessible, and financially viable for producers.
  • Renshaw said water quality can be improved through conservation efforts and strong relationships with producers and landowners.
  • Renshaw said conservation is implemented when local voices are heard and producers are part of the conversation.
  • Renshaw identified water quality as a policy area she is personally passionate about.
Show 2 more
  • Announced on Facebook that she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner to support practical, locally-driven conservation that benefits land, water, and community, and listed priorities including practical, accessible, financially viable conservation, improving water quality, and ensuring farmers and landowners have a voice in conservation decisions.
  • In her campaign announcement post she states she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner "to support practical, locally-driven conservation efforts that benefit our land, water, and community.".

Sources: Ballotpedia; Facebook

In the news

  • The Gazette published an explainer on the role of soil and water district commissioners ahead of the 2026 election.

Sources: The Gazette

Where they stand

Each mark is one sourced item from Positions & statements (left) or Record in office (right), grouped by issue. Click a mark to open its source; open an issue below to read its items.Tap an issue to see the sourced items.

STATEMENTSVOTES & RECORDWater & environmentRenshaw said conservation projects need to be practical, accessible, and financially viable for producers. (Ballotpedia, 2026-09-27)Renshaw said water quality can be improved through conservation efforts and strong relationships with producers and landowners. (Ballotpedia, 2026-09-27)Renshaw said conservation is implemented when local voices are heard and producers are part of the conversation. (Ballotpedia, 2026-09-27)Renshaw identified water quality as a policy area she is personally passionate about. (Ballotpedia, 2026-09-27)Announced on Facebook that she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner to support practical, locally-driven conservation that benefits land, water, and community, and listed priorities including practical, accessible, financially viable conservation, improving water quality, and ensuring farmers and landowners have a voice in conservation decisions. (Facebook, 2026-10-18)In her campaign announcement post she states she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner "to support practical, locally-driven conservation efforts that benefit our land, water, and community." (Facebook, 2026-10-19)Renshaw was listed as a breakout speaker representing Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development's Community Kitchen at the Linn County Food Systems Council's Oct. 30, 2026 food symposium. (Linn County, IA, 2026-09-25)Schools & educationRenshaw said she currently serves on the Linn County Food Systems Council, chairs the Linn County Extension Board, and serves on Women Land and Legacy, the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee, the Women, Food and Agriculture Network, and local public school committees. (Ballotpedia, 2026-09-27)StatementAllegedVoted yesVoted noOther record
Water & environment6 statements1 other record
Positions

Renshaw said conservation projects need to be practical, accessible, and financially viable for producers.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

Renshaw said water quality can be improved through conservation efforts and strong relationships with producers and landowners.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

Renshaw said conservation is implemented when local voices are heard and producers are part of the conversation.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

Renshaw identified water quality as a policy area she is personally passionate about.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

Show 2 more

Announced on Facebook that she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner to support practical, locally-driven conservation that benefits land, water, and community, and listed priorities including practical, accessible, financially viable conservation, improving water quality, and ensuring farmers and landowners have a voice in conservation decisions.Facebook · Oct. 18, 2026

In her campaign announcement post she states she is running for Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner "to support practical, locally-driven conservation efforts that benefit our land, water, and community."Facebook · Oct. 19, 2026

Record

Renshaw was listed as a breakout speaker representing Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development's Community Kitchen at the Linn County Food Systems Council's Oct. 30, 2026 food symposium.officialLinn County, IA · Sept. 25, 2026

Schools & education1 other record
Positions

None found.

Record

Renshaw said she currently serves on the Linn County Food Systems Council, chairs the Linn County Extension Board, and serves on Women Land and Legacy, the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee, the Women, Food and Agriculture Network, and local public school committees.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

The race

Soil and Water Conservation DistrictGeneral election · Nov. 3, 2026
Source: Linn County Election Services candidate list · Oct. 7, 2026
  • Emmaly Renshaw is a nonpartisan candidate on the Nov. 3, 2026 general-election ballot for the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Board, where two seats are open and she is running alongside Joshua O'Connell and Sean Stokes.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

Campaign money

No records found.

Public record

Years come from the item text; a gray italic year is when the source was published.

  1. 2026
    Renshaw was listed as a breakout speaker representing Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development's Community Kitchen at the Linn County Food Systems Council's Oct. 30, 2026 food symposium.officialLinn County, IA · Sept. 25, 2026Water & environment
    Renshaw chairs the Linn County Extension Council, the elected body that governs ISU Extension and Outreach in Linn County, with a term expiring in 2026.officialIowa State University Extension and Outreach · Oct. 17, 2026Year is the source's publication date.
    Renshaw said she currently serves on the Linn County Food Systems Council, chairs the Linn County Extension Board, and serves on Women Land and Legacy, the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee, the Women, Food and Agriculture Network, and local public school committees.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026Year is the source's publication date.Schools & education

Positions & statements

6 statements are grouped above under Water & environment.

Background

Years come from the item text; a gray italic year is when the source was published.

  1. 2026
    Her publicly visible Facebook profile shows no political party affiliation or partisan content.Facebook · Oct. 19, 2026
    Maintains a personal LinkedIn profile, which her Ballotpedia candidate page lists as her contact; the profile describes her as Senior Program Director of Farmer Development at Iowa Valley RC&D, based in Cedar Rapids.LinkedIn · Oct. 18, 2026
    Her Facebook profile (under the name Emmaly Fenton Renshaw) identifies her as Senior Program Director at Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development.Facebook · Oct. 18, 2026
  2. 2015
    Emmaly Renshaw was a parent of three Jackson Elementary students and co-president of the Jackson Parent Teacher Association in 2015.newsThe Gazette (Cedar Rapids Community History Archive) · July 1, 2015
  3. 2011
    Co-owns a home in Cedar Rapids, recorded 2011 (instrument 08076-00002).officialCedar Rapids Assessor · Oct. 18, 2026
  4. 2004
    Renshaw is an Iowa State University graduate (bachelor's, 2004) who lists her profession as agriculture and is not an incumbent officeholder.referenceBallotpedia · Sept. 27, 2026

In the news

  • The Gazette published an explainer on the role of soil and water district commissioners ahead of the 2026 election.newsThe Gazette · Oct. 7, 2026
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