Ohio Soil and Water Conservation
Commission Election Legal Notice
The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Hamilton County Conservation District (HCCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Hamilton County Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.
There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
The Hamilton County Conservation District office must receive absentee ballots by 4:00 pm on 9/15/2023.
Two Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2026.
Nominees are:
There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
- At the Hamilton County Conservation District office, 1325 East Kemper Road, Suite 115, Cincinnati, OH 45246, from 8/17/2023 until 9/15/2023 during normal business hours (8am-4pm); or
- At the SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241, on 8/18/2023 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm; or
- Voting absentee from 8/17/2023 until 9/15/2023, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the HCCD office at the following address Hamilton County Conservation District office, 1325 East Kemper Road, Suite 115, Cincinnati, OH 45246, by calling (513) 772-7645, or visiting the Hamilton County Conservation District’s election website, www.hcswcd.org/election, and ballot application and an election ballot will be mailed to you.
The Hamilton County Conservation District office must receive absentee ballots by 4:00 pm on 9/15/2023.
Two Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2026.
Nominees are:
- Kenneth Petren
- Laura Boyd
- Paul Coors
- Sam McKinley
Absentee Ballot Request Form
Ballots will not be mailed until 8/17/2023.
2023 Candidates

Kenneth Petren
Ken is a lifelong ecologist and conservation scientist, who believes that society will benefit from scientists who take the time to fully understand community issues and challenges. Ken has been a professor at the University of Cincinnati since 2000, and he was Dean of Arts and Sciences from 2015-2019. He was recently appointed Director of the UC Field Center, which emphasizes public engagement with environmental research, education and outreach. Ken received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego and has a bachelors from Princeton University. Ken sees his role with the Conservation District as an opportunity to help bring conservation, development and public perspectives closer together to create a better, more sustainable future for the citizens of Hamilton County.
Ken is a lifelong ecologist and conservation scientist, who believes that society will benefit from scientists who take the time to fully understand community issues and challenges. Ken has been a professor at the University of Cincinnati since 2000, and he was Dean of Arts and Sciences from 2015-2019. He was recently appointed Director of the UC Field Center, which emphasizes public engagement with environmental research, education and outreach. Ken received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego and has a bachelors from Princeton University. Ken sees his role with the Conservation District as an opportunity to help bring conservation, development and public perspectives closer together to create a better, more sustainable future for the citizens of Hamilton County.

Laura Boyd
Laura Boyd has been a resident of Hamilton County for over 15 years and serves
as the current chair of the Hamilton County Conservation District. She has over
10 years of experience working on environmental compliance issues for the
public and private sectors. Her professional experience provides her with an in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations.
Laura is a recent graduate of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI), a
national program championed by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and is committed to using her leadership skills to further the mission of the District. Laura is passionate about the environment, conservation, and her community. Laura serves as the Environmental Manager for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC). She earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Laura is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and
Sediment Control (CPESC).
Laura Boyd has been a resident of Hamilton County for over 15 years and serves
as the current chair of the Hamilton County Conservation District. She has over
10 years of experience working on environmental compliance issues for the
public and private sectors. Her professional experience provides her with an in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations.
Laura is a recent graduate of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI), a
national program championed by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and is committed to using her leadership skills to further the mission of the District. Laura is passionate about the environment, conservation, and her community. Laura serves as the Environmental Manager for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC). She earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Laura is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and
Sediment Control (CPESC).

Paul Coors
Greetings! My name is Paul Coors and it’s with pride and anticipation that I want to run for the Board of Supervisors for the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District.
As a life-long resident of Hamilton County and having worked in the construction industry for over 25 years, I’m confident that utilizing my myriad skills and attributes is a great opportunity to give back to the citizens of Hamilton County.
I live in Wyoming, Ohio with my wife, Amy, and our daughter Sophie. I’ve been with Ryan Homes for 20+ years and have worked in the capacity of construction manager and in the past 5 years in land development. I’ve worked with many developers, contractors, engineers and government entities while constructing over 500 homes and developing over 3500 home-sites.
In my free time I love to travel and spend time with my family. I also love to do landscape projects in my yard and garden, hike with our dog, mountain bike, and kayak. I’m also an active volunteer at Wyoming High School.
Greetings! My name is Paul Coors and it’s with pride and anticipation that I want to run for the Board of Supervisors for the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District.
As a life-long resident of Hamilton County and having worked in the construction industry for over 25 years, I’m confident that utilizing my myriad skills and attributes is a great opportunity to give back to the citizens of Hamilton County.
I live in Wyoming, Ohio with my wife, Amy, and our daughter Sophie. I’ve been with Ryan Homes for 20+ years and have worked in the capacity of construction manager and in the past 5 years in land development. I’ve worked with many developers, contractors, engineers and government entities while constructing over 500 homes and developing over 3500 home-sites.
In my free time I love to travel and spend time with my family. I also love to do landscape projects in my yard and garden, hike with our dog, mountain bike, and kayak. I’m also an active volunteer at Wyoming High School.

Sam McKinley
Sam McKinley works for a large, national environmental services consultancy, SWCA Environmental. He primarily assists developers of utility-scale solar projects in securing land leases, and all phases of follow up. He also performs stormwater protection plan inspections, stream restorations, and even bat monitoring projects. He is currently working towards becoming a Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector, hopefully by the end of summer 2023.
Sam previously served on the Board of Supervisors of the Hamilton County Conservation District for nine years, from 2008-2017. Having lived most of his life in Hamilton County, he has served on the boards of the local Sierra Club, OKI Council of Governments, and his community council in the Northside neighborhood, where he has lived for the past 13 years.
He earned both Bachelor of Urban Planning and a Master of Community Planning-Environmental Planning from DAAP at the University of Cincinnati. He has two children and one grandson, all close-by.
Sam McKinley works for a large, national environmental services consultancy, SWCA Environmental. He primarily assists developers of utility-scale solar projects in securing land leases, and all phases of follow up. He also performs stormwater protection plan inspections, stream restorations, and even bat monitoring projects. He is currently working towards becoming a Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Storm Water Inspector, hopefully by the end of summer 2023.
Sam previously served on the Board of Supervisors of the Hamilton County Conservation District for nine years, from 2008-2017. Having lived most of his life in Hamilton County, he has served on the boards of the local Sierra Club, OKI Council of Governments, and his community council in the Northside neighborhood, where he has lived for the past 13 years.
He earned both Bachelor of Urban Planning and a Master of Community Planning-Environmental Planning from DAAP at the University of Cincinnati. He has two children and one grandson, all close-by.