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).
Surveillance & privacy
No sourced statement or vote on surveillance found yet (license plate readers, cameras, facial recognition, drones, data retention).
Quick facts
- Office: Soil and Water Conservation District
- Incumbent: No
- Opponents: Joshua O'Connell (Nonpartisan), Emmaly Renshaw (Nonpartisan)
Recent statement
Wrote a Gazette op-ed arguing that Iowa faces a public-health crisis from agricultural nitrate and pesticide pollution and urging a shift toward organic agriculture and in-field practices such as cover crops and diversified rotations to protect water.
Biography
The race
- Sean Stokes 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); Emmaly Renshaw (Nonpartisan).
Background
- Is a soil scientist and Research Director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center; his doctoral thesis addressed soil degradation and water scarcity in agricultural systems.
- Sean Stokes is a soil scientist with a Ph.D. from Colorado State University; his doctoral work focused on soil degradation and water scarcity, and he is research director at the Rodale Institute's Midwest Organic Center.
- Stokes was named to the Iowa Organic Association Board of Directors; Rodale Institute said his work supports organic farmers across the Midwest through research rooted in soil health and farmer-led solutions.
Public life
- Purchased a Cedar Rapids home in April 2025, recorded 2025 (instrument 2025-009105).
- Sean Stokes is a nonpartisan candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election for the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Board, a two-seat race in which he is running alongside Joshua O'Connell and Emmaly Renshaw.
Positions & statements
- Wrote a Gazette op-ed arguing that Iowa faces a public-health crisis from agricultural nitrate and pesticide pollution and urging a shift toward organic agriculture and in-field practices such as cover crops and diversified rotations to protect water.
- Wrote a Rodale Institute article arguing that protecting Midwest drinking water requires shifting from edge-of-field practices to in-field, system-level solutions such as cover crops, diversified crop rotations, perennial systems, and organic management.
In the news
- The Gazette reported that Sean Stokes, research director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center in Marion, said cover-crop acres are increasing in Iowa even as some farmers drop the practice, and that farmer motivations vary from water quality to profit.
- KMAland reported that Sean Stokes, research director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center in Marion, Iowa, said cover-crop adoption decisions vary by farm and can be driven by water quality, soil health, or business calculations.
The race
Soil and Water Conservation DistrictGeneral election · Nov. 3, 2026
Sean StokesThis profile- Joshua O'Connell
- Emmaly Renshaw
- Sean Stokes is a nonpartisan candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election for the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Board, a two-seat race in which he is running alongside Joshua O'Connell and Emmaly Renshaw.referenceBallotpedia · Oct. 17, 2026
Campaign money
No records found.
Public record
No records found.
Positions & statements
- Wrote a Gazette op-ed arguing that Iowa faces a public-health crisis from agricultural nitrate and pesticide pollution and urging a shift toward organic agriculture and in-field practices such as cover crops and diversified rotations to protect water.newsThe Gazette · Aug. 12, 2026
- Wrote a Rodale Institute article arguing that protecting Midwest drinking water requires shifting from edge-of-field practices to in-field, system-level solutions such as cover crops, diversified crop rotations, perennial systems, and organic management.orgRodale Institute · May 15, 2026
Background
- 2026Is a soil scientist and Research Director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center; his doctoral thesis addressed soil degradation and water scarcity in agricultural systems.orgColorado State University · Oct. 18, 2026Sean Stokes is a soil scientist with a Ph.D. from Colorado State University; his doctoral work focused on soil degradation and water scarcity, and he is research director at the Rodale Institute's Midwest Organic Center.orgColorado State University · Oct. 17, 2026Stokes was named to the Iowa Organic Association Board of Directors; Rodale Institute said his work supports organic farmers across the Midwest through research rooted in soil health and farmer-led solutions.Rodale Institute · Oct. 17, 2026
- 2025Purchased a Cedar Rapids home in April 2025, recorded 2025 (instrument 2025-009105).officialCedar Rapids Assessor · Oct. 18, 2026
In the news
- The Gazette reported that Sean Stokes, research director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center in Marion, said cover-crop acres are increasing in Iowa even as some farmers drop the practice, and that farmer motivations vary from water quality to profit.newsThe Gazette · Oct. 5, 2025
- KMAland reported that Sean Stokes, research director at the Rodale Institute Midwest Organic Center in Marion, Iowa, said cover-crop adoption decisions vary by farm and can be driven by water quality, soil health, or business calculations.newsKMAland · Jan. 25, 2026