Max Prinsen of Renton has been elected to a three-year term as a member of the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors, according to the Renton Reporter. Kirk Prindle, a former City of Issaquah Wetland Biologist, finished fourth.

According to unofficial returns, Prinsen received 1,772 votes, Mara Heiman of Auburn, 1,488, Mary Embleton of Seattle, 519, Kirk Prindle of Seattle, 402, and Teri Herrera of Redmond 51.

Following a final canvassing of votes in the March 16 election, the results will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at its business meeting in May. Prinsen will be sworn in at the June 14 conservation district board meeting.

The 2010 vote total of 4,232 was a major increase over the 2,757 ballots cast in the 2009 election and reflects successively larger turnouts in conservation district elections over the past five years, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Knutsen.

“The higher level of activity at the polls this year can be attributed to increased interest in the King CD, including our voluntary conservation and stewardship efforts with private landowners, and enthusiastic campaign efforts by candidates,” said Knutsen.

The Washington State Conservation Commission, which oversees the various conservation districts statewide, said several election reforms were put in place this year, including increasing the minimum time polls must be open and adding a verification requirement that all candidates file for election at least four weeks before election day.

The conservation district, working with Bellevue-based election administrator Election Trust, provided seven polling locations across the district, which includes most of King County.